WAYNE LOFTIN
Wayne Loftin, 69, died March 28. He was born Jan. 8, 1936, in McRae. He retired from Affiliated Foods after 27 years of service. He was previously employed by Central Arkansas Milk Producers Associa-tion and Associated Milk Producers Association for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gaines and Pauline Loftin. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Bobbie Neal; son Doug Loftin and wife Cindy of Bryant; daughters Charlotte of Cut Bank, Montana and Tonya Alkire and husband David Pike of Pangburn; three grandchildren, Wesley and wife Shelly of Alexander, Aaron of Bryant and Alison Alkire of Pangburn; brothers, Hiram “Junior” and wife Roberta of Memphis, Tenn., Ron and wife Fran of Homestead, Fla.; sisters Jamell Short and husband Bill of Conway, Willa Dean Hill and husband Dean of Silafee, Texas; several nieces and nephews and numerous friends and family.
Visitation begins at noon Wednesday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe, with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Westbrook Funeral Home, with burial in Antioch Cemetery. Charles Curlie, Travis Hall, Larry Reynolds, Raysel Bradberry, Preston Roberts and Jimmy Rogers will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, family requests memorials be made to American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
JULIUS SMITH
Julius Smith, 81, of Sherwood was born on Jan. 2, 1924, in rural Lonoke County and died March 26.
He was the fourth of 12 children born to Burl and Edith Smith. He served with the 8th Air Force 457th Bomber Group in World War II and flew 29 missions over Germany including D-Day. He was a member of the Eaker Chapter of the Distin-guished Flying Cross Society. Post-war he farmed and worked in sales. He started the Department of Public Safety at UALR in 1969 and retired in 1986. He was a member of Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Sherwood.
He leaves his wife of 61 years, Clara; two sons, Larone and wife Pat of North Little Rock, Danny and wife Ginger of Russellville; three grandsons, Michael Smith and wife Leigh of Fayetteville, Jason Smith and wife Jennifer of Russellville and Brian Smith of Jonesboro; one granddaughter, Kimberly Furhman and husband Chad of Fayetteville; four great-grandsons, Aidan, Isaac and Samuel Smith of Fayetteville and Noah Fuhrman of Fayetteville; four sisters, Lottie Stubbs of Little Rock, Dorothy Dube of Sherwood, Adlee Stratton of Cordova, Tenn., and Sharon Bass of Beebe; four brothers, J. B. Smith of Marianna, Sammy Smith of Ward, Gene Smith and Gary Smith, both of Cabot, and a large extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Alvin and Jimmy Smith and one sister, Madge King. Funeral services were held Monday at Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Sherwood, with burial in Butlerville Cemetery.
LOUISE POWELL
Louise (Lucy) Huber Powell, 64, of Austin was born June 18, 1940, at Pine Bluff to the late Edward W. and Margaret L. Huber, and she died March 26 after a courageous battle against lung cancer. Louise was also preceded in death by her husband of 23 years, Bobby W. Powell. She and Bob were members of 16th Section United Methodist Church at Austin. A 1957 graduate of Stuttgart High School, Louise retired from U.S. Postal Service.
She is survived by a son, Paul Christian of Dallas, Texas; two daughters, Wendy Nilsson of Rich-ardson, Texas and Lisa Buckner of Fayetteville; three sisters, Margie Martin of Kyle, Texas, Crystal Hu-ber of North Little Rock and Laura Huber of Maumelle; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. A special thanks to Arkansas Oncology Associates, CARTI, Dr. Sauer and the staff at Hospice Home Care.
Funeral services were Tuesday at 16th Section United Methodist Church at Austin with burial in 16th Section Cemetery by Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. Family requests donations be made to Arkansas Children’s Hospital or Beebe Humane Society, 707 Hwy 64 West, Beebe, Ark. 72012.
ESTHER FIELDS
Esther May “Bratcher” Fields, 88 of Jacksonville, passed away on March 26. She was a member of Marshall Road Baptist Church of Jacksonville.
Survivors are five daughters, Linda Hicks of Ohio, Sharon Teel and Betty Roe, both of Hector, and Joyce Mullins and Becky Fields, both of Jacksonville; three sons, Ray Fields of Judsonia, J.R. Fields of North Little Rock, and Billy Fields of Jacksonville; one brother, Mearl Bratcher of Missouri; 25 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Funeral services were held Tuesday at Marshall Road Baptist Church. Burial followed in Shady Grove Cemetery in Bald Knob.
PAULINE FOLEY
Pauline Estelle Robicheaux Foley, 85, of Jacksonville passed away March 25. She was born Sept. 5, 1919 to H.J. Gill and Ressie Dowell. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Gravel Ridge. She loved to collect coins and stamps. She was known for loving to cook and won many awards for her cooking. She is preceded in death by both her husbands, Wilma L. Robicheaux and Joe Foley.
Her sisters, Delores Witcher and Nancy Clark also preceded her in death. She is survived by her son, Leigh Robicheaux; grandchildren, Brandon Robicheaux and Aimee Milligan; great grandchildren Chloe and Cierra; five nieces, Judy Hodges and DeeAnn Davis, Amy Jo Dixon, Michelle O’Donnell and Deanna Harris; a nephew Joe Witcher; and an aunt, Vera Begnaud.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Gravel Ridge. Interment followed at Rest Hills Memorial Park.
Arrangements are by Griffin-Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
SPORTS >> Colleges taking notice
Cabot’s Kim Sitzmann has become one of Arkansas’ premier hoopsters
By Ray Benton
Leader sports editor
The Cabot girls basketball program will have a Division I signee for the second straight year next season. The University of Arkan-sas-Little Rock extended an official scholarship offer to junior Lady Panther forward Kimberly Sitzmann last week.
Sitzmann has visited the campus and the coaching staff, and leans very heavily towards the Lady Trojans, although she’s waiting to see what else comes her way in the future before making a final decision.
“I really think I’d enjoy it there,” Sitzmann said. “They offered me a full scholarship and lots of other great stuff. They are building a new arena and all that fun stuff. Unless something a whole lot better comes along, I could see myself playing there.”
Lady Panther senior Ashley Anderson signed with Arkansas State University at the beginning of the season, and would become a rival of Sitzmann’s if she decides to become a Lady Trojan.
UALR is the only Division I school to extend an offer so far, but since her junior season just ended, it’s still very early in Sitzmann’s recruiting process.
The University of Arkansas, the University of Colorado, Tulsa University and Oral Roberts University have also contacted Sitzmann and shown serious interest in her.
Sitzmann is likely to get more calls in the near future after last week’s trip to Springdale for the Arkansas Athletes Outreach invitational basketball camp.
Sitzmann was one of 73 juniors and sophomores, as well as a couple of freshmen, invited to the camp and each player competed in six games with various teams.
At the end of the six games, an all-star team was selected by coaches and evaluators and Sitzmann was one of the all-stars.
She’ll take her basketball talents on the road this summer to compete with the Arkansas Mavericks’ 16-under AAU team. The Mavericks’ roster looks like a who’s who list of Arkansas girls basketball players.
They get their AAU season underway this weekend, but Sitzmann will also take part in team camps with her high-school team. The Lady Panthers will travel to Indiana for a camp in July.
But basketball is not the only sport at which Sitzmann excels. She is also a star soccer player.
She has already scored nine goals in just five games this spring for the Cabot high school team.
In junior high and ninth grade, Sitzmann thought soccer would be her ticket to college.
She began receiving interest from colleges her freshman year. But after a taste of the competitiveness of high-school basketball, Sitzmann found a new love, which she accredited for changing her focus.
“It was just the love of the game,” Sitzmann said. “I love how competitive it is and how aggressive it can be. I like playing that way and just love playing basketball.”
With straight A’s, a 3.8 GPA, a ACT score of 22 and plans of getting it even higher, Sitzmann has a third way to punch her ticket to college, even without athletics.
Strong-willed, focused and goal-oriented, Sitzmann already knows what course of study she wants to pursue in college.
“First I’m just going to get my basics out of the way while I play, but after that I want to study medicine. I want to major in pharmacy.”
Sitzmann is enrolled in Cabot’s MACH I medical academy to get a head start in the study of medicine and medicinal science. In need of more immediate attention, however, is her immediate future. As the summer and the AAU season progresses, and more coaches see her, more and more offers are likely to come. But Sitzmann doesn’t plan on letting it distract her during her final high-school season.
“I’m going to commit by November,” Sitzmann said. “I want to get all that out of the way and focus on my senior year.”
By Ray Benton
Leader sports editor
The Cabot girls basketball program will have a Division I signee for the second straight year next season. The University of Arkan-sas-Little Rock extended an official scholarship offer to junior Lady Panther forward Kimberly Sitzmann last week.
Sitzmann has visited the campus and the coaching staff, and leans very heavily towards the Lady Trojans, although she’s waiting to see what else comes her way in the future before making a final decision.
“I really think I’d enjoy it there,” Sitzmann said. “They offered me a full scholarship and lots of other great stuff. They are building a new arena and all that fun stuff. Unless something a whole lot better comes along, I could see myself playing there.”
Lady Panther senior Ashley Anderson signed with Arkansas State University at the beginning of the season, and would become a rival of Sitzmann’s if she decides to become a Lady Trojan.
UALR is the only Division I school to extend an offer so far, but since her junior season just ended, it’s still very early in Sitzmann’s recruiting process.
The University of Arkansas, the University of Colorado, Tulsa University and Oral Roberts University have also contacted Sitzmann and shown serious interest in her.
Sitzmann is likely to get more calls in the near future after last week’s trip to Springdale for the Arkansas Athletes Outreach invitational basketball camp.
Sitzmann was one of 73 juniors and sophomores, as well as a couple of freshmen, invited to the camp and each player competed in six games with various teams.
At the end of the six games, an all-star team was selected by coaches and evaluators and Sitzmann was one of the all-stars.
She’ll take her basketball talents on the road this summer to compete with the Arkansas Mavericks’ 16-under AAU team. The Mavericks’ roster looks like a who’s who list of Arkansas girls basketball players.
They get their AAU season underway this weekend, but Sitzmann will also take part in team camps with her high-school team. The Lady Panthers will travel to Indiana for a camp in July.
But basketball is not the only sport at which Sitzmann excels. She is also a star soccer player.
She has already scored nine goals in just five games this spring for the Cabot high school team.
In junior high and ninth grade, Sitzmann thought soccer would be her ticket to college.
She began receiving interest from colleges her freshman year. But after a taste of the competitiveness of high-school basketball, Sitzmann found a new love, which she accredited for changing her focus.
“It was just the love of the game,” Sitzmann said. “I love how competitive it is and how aggressive it can be. I like playing that way and just love playing basketball.”
With straight A’s, a 3.8 GPA, a ACT score of 22 and plans of getting it even higher, Sitzmann has a third way to punch her ticket to college, even without athletics.
Strong-willed, focused and goal-oriented, Sitzmann already knows what course of study she wants to pursue in college.
“First I’m just going to get my basics out of the way while I play, but after that I want to study medicine. I want to major in pharmacy.”
Sitzmann is enrolled in Cabot’s MACH I medical academy to get a head start in the study of medicine and medicinal science. In need of more immediate attention, however, is her immediate future. As the summer and the AAU season progresses, and more coaches see her, more and more offers are likely to come. But Sitzmann doesn’t plan on letting it distract her during her final high-school season.
“I’m going to commit by November,” Sitzmann said. “I want to get all that out of the way and focus on my senior year.”
SPORTS>> Sylvan Hills takes two from Devils
Bears stay atop standings with route of Jacksonville
By Ray Benton
Leader sports editor
First-place Sylvan Hills took advantage of shorthanded and last place Jacksonville in a AAAAA-East doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at the Sherwood sports complex.
The Bears got to play a scheduled road series at home and swept both games from the Red Devils to remain undefeated in conference play. Sylvan Hills won game one 15-5 and prevailed 11-0 in game two.
The double dip was scheduled to take place at Jacksonville on Monday, but weekend rains forced the game to Tuesday. Hickingbotham Field never dried and the decision was made to move it to Sherwood.
Jacksonville also played without four starters, including senior Zach Darr, who is first in Jacksonville’s pitching rotation for game one of doubleheaders.
Tuesday, that duty fell to sophomore Eric Berry, who gave up 10 runs in two-and-a-third innings before leaving the mound.
Sylvan Hills’ bats were hot from beginning to end of game one as the Bears scored in every inning of the run-rule-shortened game two.
Chase Elder, who started in the outfield and left after the third inning to prepare to take the mound in game two, got things rolling in the first inning with a flare single to left field.
Brandon Eller followed with a walk, but Elder was thrown out when pitcher Matt Presson hit into a fielder’s choice. Cody Sanders hit a deep fly to centerfield that was misplayed, allowing both base runners to score on the play.
Presson stepped to the mound in the bottom of the first and sat the Red Devils down in order.
Trey Enis led off the second inning with a single to left field and scored two batters later on a single by Shawn Bybee. Bybee’s single was the first of four straight by Sylvan Hills. Hayden Miller, Elder and Eller provided the next three, with Elder and Eller each picking up an RBI.
Presson grounded out to second base to score the final run of the inning as the Bears took a 5-0 lead after one and a half.
Jacksonville went three up, three down again in the bottom of the second, and Sylvan Hills made it 10-0 in the third.
Baker singled to lead off the inning and the next two batters flew out to centerfield. That paved the way for some two-out Bear longball. Bybee and Miller hit back-to-back doubles, with each gathering an RBI, and Elder and Eller followed with the fireworks. The lefty Elder hit a two-run home run down the right-field line. Eller, who bats right-handed, went opposite field over the fence in right on the next at bat to make it 10-0.
Jacksonville finally got something going offensively when Eller flubbed the throw to first on a grounder by Jeremy Williams. A passed ball and a wild pitch got Williams to third, and freshman Cameron Hood singled to right field to score Williams. Blake Mattison walked and Hood stole third base. Another passed ball allowed Hood to take home and make it 10-2. The rest of the game was mostly played by reserves.
Sylvan Hills scored four runs in the fourth and another in the top of the fifth inning. Jacksonville rallied in the bottom of the fifth and almost closed the margin to within the run-rule limit, but a pop up to shortstop by Jake Ussery ended the rally with the bases loaded.
Chase Elder turned in the best offensive performance of the game, going 3 for 3 with a double, a home run and three RBIs.
Sylvan Hills is now 6-0 in conference play while Jackson-ville falls to 0-6.
Sylvan Hills will take part in the Conway tournament this weekend before coming back to take on Forrest City on April 5. Jacksonville is off until April 5. They play at Mountain Home.
By Ray Benton
Leader sports editor
First-place Sylvan Hills took advantage of shorthanded and last place Jacksonville in a AAAAA-East doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at the Sherwood sports complex.
The Bears got to play a scheduled road series at home and swept both games from the Red Devils to remain undefeated in conference play. Sylvan Hills won game one 15-5 and prevailed 11-0 in game two.
The double dip was scheduled to take place at Jacksonville on Monday, but weekend rains forced the game to Tuesday. Hickingbotham Field never dried and the decision was made to move it to Sherwood.
Jacksonville also played without four starters, including senior Zach Darr, who is first in Jacksonville’s pitching rotation for game one of doubleheaders.
Tuesday, that duty fell to sophomore Eric Berry, who gave up 10 runs in two-and-a-third innings before leaving the mound.
Sylvan Hills’ bats were hot from beginning to end of game one as the Bears scored in every inning of the run-rule-shortened game two.
Chase Elder, who started in the outfield and left after the third inning to prepare to take the mound in game two, got things rolling in the first inning with a flare single to left field.
Brandon Eller followed with a walk, but Elder was thrown out when pitcher Matt Presson hit into a fielder’s choice. Cody Sanders hit a deep fly to centerfield that was misplayed, allowing both base runners to score on the play.
Presson stepped to the mound in the bottom of the first and sat the Red Devils down in order.
Trey Enis led off the second inning with a single to left field and scored two batters later on a single by Shawn Bybee. Bybee’s single was the first of four straight by Sylvan Hills. Hayden Miller, Elder and Eller provided the next three, with Elder and Eller each picking up an RBI.
Presson grounded out to second base to score the final run of the inning as the Bears took a 5-0 lead after one and a half.
Jacksonville went three up, three down again in the bottom of the second, and Sylvan Hills made it 10-0 in the third.
Baker singled to lead off the inning and the next two batters flew out to centerfield. That paved the way for some two-out Bear longball. Bybee and Miller hit back-to-back doubles, with each gathering an RBI, and Elder and Eller followed with the fireworks. The lefty Elder hit a two-run home run down the right-field line. Eller, who bats right-handed, went opposite field over the fence in right on the next at bat to make it 10-0.
Jacksonville finally got something going offensively when Eller flubbed the throw to first on a grounder by Jeremy Williams. A passed ball and a wild pitch got Williams to third, and freshman Cameron Hood singled to right field to score Williams. Blake Mattison walked and Hood stole third base. Another passed ball allowed Hood to take home and make it 10-2. The rest of the game was mostly played by reserves.
Sylvan Hills scored four runs in the fourth and another in the top of the fifth inning. Jacksonville rallied in the bottom of the fifth and almost closed the margin to within the run-rule limit, but a pop up to shortstop by Jake Ussery ended the rally with the bases loaded.
Chase Elder turned in the best offensive performance of the game, going 3 for 3 with a double, a home run and three RBIs.
Sylvan Hills is now 6-0 in conference play while Jackson-ville falls to 0-6.
Sylvan Hills will take part in the Conway tournament this weekend before coming back to take on Forrest City on April 5. Jacksonville is off until April 5. They play at Mountain Home.
EDITORIAL>> Clinton named first in poll
File this for the next presidential election. If your interest is a robust national economy, pay no attention to those who promise to spur the economy by tax cuts for business and the investor class. Modern history suggests that those are not the ones who will deliver.
Forbes, the financial magazine run by Steve Forbes, the conservative wannabe president, produced a formula for measuring the economic success of modern presidents. The magazine plugged in the figures for growth of the gross national product, per-capita income growth, employment gains, reduction in the unemployment rate, inflation reduction and federal-deficit reduction.
Guess who was the greatest economic president in the modern era? It was none other than Arkansas’ own Bill Clinton. He came out well ahead of all the others, owing to phenomenal job numbers, historically low unemployment, the first budget surpluses since 1968 and big gains in per-capita income.
President Lyndon B. Johnson, the last previous president to produce a budget surplus, was second and John F. Kennedy third. Kennedy inherited a recession and produced robust economic growth.
Ronald Reagan? He was fourth. Reagan enjoyed a fast-growing economy in his second term. His first term, which began with big tax cuts for corporations and high-income individuals, was battered by a long and steep recession and double-digit unemployment that followed the tax cuts.
He blamed it on residual effects of the policies of his predecessor, Jimmy Carter.
Forbes credited Carter (1977-81) with the greatest record of job growth in the nation’s history. But Carter’s record was marred by an oil-price spike and other factors that produced record high interest rates.
Forbes didn’t factor President George W. Bush, but unless there is an extraordinary turnaround in the next three years that no economist is now predicting, he will go the bottom, below even the elder Bush.
Arkansas did not do so badly when Bill Clinton was governor either. For a period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Arkansas was among the leading states in percentage job growth and, amazingly, was one of the few states adding manufacturing jobs.
Liberals are supposed to be bad for the economy and conservatives good for it. Go figure.
Forbes, the financial magazine run by Steve Forbes, the conservative wannabe president, produced a formula for measuring the economic success of modern presidents. The magazine plugged in the figures for growth of the gross national product, per-capita income growth, employment gains, reduction in the unemployment rate, inflation reduction and federal-deficit reduction.
Guess who was the greatest economic president in the modern era? It was none other than Arkansas’ own Bill Clinton. He came out well ahead of all the others, owing to phenomenal job numbers, historically low unemployment, the first budget surpluses since 1968 and big gains in per-capita income.
President Lyndon B. Johnson, the last previous president to produce a budget surplus, was second and John F. Kennedy third. Kennedy inherited a recession and produced robust economic growth.
Ronald Reagan? He was fourth. Reagan enjoyed a fast-growing economy in his second term. His first term, which began with big tax cuts for corporations and high-income individuals, was battered by a long and steep recession and double-digit unemployment that followed the tax cuts.
He blamed it on residual effects of the policies of his predecessor, Jimmy Carter.
Forbes credited Carter (1977-81) with the greatest record of job growth in the nation’s history. But Carter’s record was marred by an oil-price spike and other factors that produced record high interest rates.
Forbes didn’t factor President George W. Bush, but unless there is an extraordinary turnaround in the next three years that no economist is now predicting, he will go the bottom, below even the elder Bush.
Arkansas did not do so badly when Bill Clinton was governor either. For a period in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Arkansas was among the leading states in percentage job growth and, amazingly, was one of the few states adding manufacturing jobs.
Liberals are supposed to be bad for the economy and conservatives good for it. Go figure.
EDITORIAL>> People win, Deltic loses
Intense lobbying by one of Arkansas’ largest industries could not persuade a House committee on Wednesday to approve a bill that would have polluted Lake Maumelle.
Had the bill slipped through the committee, following easy passage in the Senate last month, the utility that provides much of the water for this area would have been barred from keeping developers out of the Lake Maumelle watershed, leading to pollution and reducing the availability of safe drinking water.
Deltic Timber, which poured thousands of dollars into a public-relations campaign that went nowhere, will have a much harder time convincing the courts that it’s in the public interest to build $1 million homes overlooking the lake that taxpayers’ money had developed to provide pure drinking water for central Arkansas. Deltic thinks it should have the right to destroy what took decades to build.
Deltic’s proposed development is the equivalent of allowing a pig farm inside your city limits. The stink and pollution are unbearable at these pig farms, and Deltic’s plan was no less appalling. It’s a good thing the Ledge buried the proposal at least until the next session.
If the committee had turned the bill loose to the House, which would probably have approved the proposal, passage almost certainly would have stopped the court proceedings against the development on the north shore. Now the judge can rule in that condemnation case prohibiting developers from moving into the watershed.
The committee’s burial of the Deltic bill presumably kills the issue for a good while, and we can also presume that CAW commissioner Jane Dickey’s willingness to compromise with Deltic is also dead at the water board, which can now move expeditiously to protect the lake and provide us with more water in the future.
The City, County and Local Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Will Bond, D-Jacksonville, preserved some honor for this legislature by rejecting this special-interest grab. Speaker Bill Stovall of Quitman, who helped kill the bill, deserves a special pat on the back, too.
Stovall and Bond, along with nearly the entire committee, fought the good fight that ended as a victory for the people and good government. Central Arkansas Water, the utility that fought Deltic Timber, will, at least for now, preserve the right of eminent domain, allowing it to control development along the lake. The power of eminent domain works for the public good and keeps polluters in check, outfits like Deltic that paint the rosiest of scenarios with no concern for the rest of us.
Rep. Bond, along with most area legislators, came out against Deltic and the polluters.
Speaker Stovall was strong in his opposition since he knows the importance of expanding the supply of fresh water. Stovall’s district is relying on Greers Ferry Lake for the area’s growing water needs, and pollution along any lake jeopardizes the health and welfare of the entire state.
Almost no one else in the legislature outside the Central Arkansas Water area showed any interest in this fight, so Stovall’s brave stance in support of the metropolitan area is especially satisfying. It was also a pleasure to see Sen. Jodie Mahony, D-El Dorado, one of the bill’s sponsors, flee the committee hearing room when he realized his proposal had no chance of getting out of committee.
Mahony, who has had a long and distinguished career, represents the area where Murphy Oil, Deltic’s parent company, is based, but he has lost his credibility in the legislature on account of his slavish devotion to his paymasters.
It was good to see him squirm. The people won this round.
Had the bill slipped through the committee, following easy passage in the Senate last month, the utility that provides much of the water for this area would have been barred from keeping developers out of the Lake Maumelle watershed, leading to pollution and reducing the availability of safe drinking water.
Deltic Timber, which poured thousands of dollars into a public-relations campaign that went nowhere, will have a much harder time convincing the courts that it’s in the public interest to build $1 million homes overlooking the lake that taxpayers’ money had developed to provide pure drinking water for central Arkansas. Deltic thinks it should have the right to destroy what took decades to build.
Deltic’s proposed development is the equivalent of allowing a pig farm inside your city limits. The stink and pollution are unbearable at these pig farms, and Deltic’s plan was no less appalling. It’s a good thing the Ledge buried the proposal at least until the next session.
If the committee had turned the bill loose to the House, which would probably have approved the proposal, passage almost certainly would have stopped the court proceedings against the development on the north shore. Now the judge can rule in that condemnation case prohibiting developers from moving into the watershed.
The committee’s burial of the Deltic bill presumably kills the issue for a good while, and we can also presume that CAW commissioner Jane Dickey’s willingness to compromise with Deltic is also dead at the water board, which can now move expeditiously to protect the lake and provide us with more water in the future.
The City, County and Local Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Will Bond, D-Jacksonville, preserved some honor for this legislature by rejecting this special-interest grab. Speaker Bill Stovall of Quitman, who helped kill the bill, deserves a special pat on the back, too.
Stovall and Bond, along with nearly the entire committee, fought the good fight that ended as a victory for the people and good government. Central Arkansas Water, the utility that fought Deltic Timber, will, at least for now, preserve the right of eminent domain, allowing it to control development along the lake. The power of eminent domain works for the public good and keeps polluters in check, outfits like Deltic that paint the rosiest of scenarios with no concern for the rest of us.
Rep. Bond, along with most area legislators, came out against Deltic and the polluters.
Speaker Stovall was strong in his opposition since he knows the importance of expanding the supply of fresh water. Stovall’s district is relying on Greers Ferry Lake for the area’s growing water needs, and pollution along any lake jeopardizes the health and welfare of the entire state.
Almost no one else in the legislature outside the Central Arkansas Water area showed any interest in this fight, so Stovall’s brave stance in support of the metropolitan area is especially satisfying. It was also a pleasure to see Sen. Jodie Mahony, D-El Dorado, one of the bill’s sponsors, flee the committee hearing room when he realized his proposal had no chance of getting out of committee.
Mahony, who has had a long and distinguished career, represents the area where Murphy Oil, Deltic’s parent company, is based, but he has lost his credibility in the legislature on account of his slavish devotion to his paymasters.
It was good to see him squirm. The people won this round.
EDITORIAL>> Stop giveaways to corporations
Another day at the legislature, another batch of special interests are relieved of having to pay taxes that the rest of us bear: One day last week it was Arkansas companies with payrolls greater than $50,000 and millionaires — no, make it billionaires — who want to set up their own private art museum in northwest Arkansas. They’ll get a break on sales or income taxes. It goes on and on, but someday someone is going to have to pick up the slack and pay for the government everyone wants.
We have a few candidates.
We nominate big multistate corporations that decided a few years ago they didn’t want to pay much, if any, taxes anymore on their profits in Arkansas. They’re too big to pay taxes to a rinky-dink place like Arkansas, so their accountants and tax lawyers set it up so they wouldn’t.
State Rep. Phil Jackson of Berryville, a Republican businessman, has introduced a bill (HB 2686) to make them pay once again. He thinks that if it becomes law it would net the state another $30 million a year to pay for schools, highways and all the other needs the legislature has at least recognized. His guess is probably very low.
But that is idle talk. HB 2686 will not become law; Jackson is not apt to even get it out of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, although he is the chairman. The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and other corporate lobbyists will see to it that it doesn’t get a vote in the House.
Two years ago, when Jackson offered the same bill, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, a multilayered and multistate corporation itself, editorially denounced the bill as the worst of the entire legislative session. We think it may be the best. It certainly is the fairest.
The Council on State Taxation, a trade group of some 570 multistate corporations and their accounting firms and tax lawyers, is out to protect state tax loopholes they created in the 1990s. State chambers do their lobbying on the ground.
Jackson’s bill, which has become law in 17 other states, would require corporations operating in many states to file unitary tax returns. They would have to combine income and losses from all their subsidiaries and the state would tax it proportionately. It is called combined reporting.
Corporations like the major oil companies, General Electric, big multistate banks, SBC Communications and Kmart maneuver their profits from a state like Arkansas to special subsidiaries set up in states that do not have corporate income taxes or else have low tax rates or give companies special treatment.
Oil companies, for example, will have an exploration subsidiary in one state and assess their distribution operations in a state like Arkansas with very high wholesale prices for gasoline. Thus profits in Arkansas are almost nonexistent. All the profits are in the state where they will not be taxed.
Or take the now famous example of the national chain Toys R Us. A Delaware subsidiary owns the rights to the logo with the backward “R” and the trademark giraffe Geoffrey. Operating stores in Arkansas and other states are charged exorbitant royalties for using the logo and the giraffe and thus show few taxable profits. The Delaware subsidiary that owns Geoffrey and the logo has all the profits and pays no state tax. One postoffice box in Delaware may be the tax home of 90 corporations. A small office in Las Vegas or Reno, Nev., may be the tax home of hundreds of companies.
Most of the giant companies compete in some way with Arkansas businesses — independent gasoline stations, clothing stores, hardware stores, grocers — that pay their state income taxes. It is simple fairness that the big boys pay, too. The top rate is 6.5 percent and they get to deduct the state tax from their federal taxes.
Since the early 1990s, when Price Waterhouse and the other big accounting companies began developing these schemes, the state corporate income tax has plummeted as a share of state taxes even while corporate profits have soared. You’ve picked up the slack for them, most recently by another 7/8ths of a percent of sales taxes and a 3 percent income tax surcharge.
Legislators won’t get that message. They’ll hear the chamber lobbyists say that if Jackson’s bill passes it will make Arkansas antibusiness and dry up industrial development. What an outrage. But it works.
We have a few candidates.
We nominate big multistate corporations that decided a few years ago they didn’t want to pay much, if any, taxes anymore on their profits in Arkansas. They’re too big to pay taxes to a rinky-dink place like Arkansas, so their accountants and tax lawyers set it up so they wouldn’t.
State Rep. Phil Jackson of Berryville, a Republican businessman, has introduced a bill (HB 2686) to make them pay once again. He thinks that if it becomes law it would net the state another $30 million a year to pay for schools, highways and all the other needs the legislature has at least recognized. His guess is probably very low.
But that is idle talk. HB 2686 will not become law; Jackson is not apt to even get it out of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, although he is the chairman. The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and other corporate lobbyists will see to it that it doesn’t get a vote in the House.
Two years ago, when Jackson offered the same bill, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, a multilayered and multistate corporation itself, editorially denounced the bill as the worst of the entire legislative session. We think it may be the best. It certainly is the fairest.
The Council on State Taxation, a trade group of some 570 multistate corporations and their accounting firms and tax lawyers, is out to protect state tax loopholes they created in the 1990s. State chambers do their lobbying on the ground.
Jackson’s bill, which has become law in 17 other states, would require corporations operating in many states to file unitary tax returns. They would have to combine income and losses from all their subsidiaries and the state would tax it proportionately. It is called combined reporting.
Corporations like the major oil companies, General Electric, big multistate banks, SBC Communications and Kmart maneuver their profits from a state like Arkansas to special subsidiaries set up in states that do not have corporate income taxes or else have low tax rates or give companies special treatment.
Oil companies, for example, will have an exploration subsidiary in one state and assess their distribution operations in a state like Arkansas with very high wholesale prices for gasoline. Thus profits in Arkansas are almost nonexistent. All the profits are in the state where they will not be taxed.
Or take the now famous example of the national chain Toys R Us. A Delaware subsidiary owns the rights to the logo with the backward “R” and the trademark giraffe Geoffrey. Operating stores in Arkansas and other states are charged exorbitant royalties for using the logo and the giraffe and thus show few taxable profits. The Delaware subsidiary that owns Geoffrey and the logo has all the profits and pays no state tax. One postoffice box in Delaware may be the tax home of 90 corporations. A small office in Las Vegas or Reno, Nev., may be the tax home of hundreds of companies.
Most of the giant companies compete in some way with Arkansas businesses — independent gasoline stations, clothing stores, hardware stores, grocers — that pay their state income taxes. It is simple fairness that the big boys pay, too. The top rate is 6.5 percent and they get to deduct the state tax from their federal taxes.
Since the early 1990s, when Price Waterhouse and the other big accounting companies began developing these schemes, the state corporate income tax has plummeted as a share of state taxes even while corporate profits have soared. You’ve picked up the slack for them, most recently by another 7/8ths of a percent of sales taxes and a 3 percent income tax surcharge.
Legislators won’t get that message. They’ll hear the chamber lobbyists say that if Jackson’s bill passes it will make Arkansas antibusiness and dry up industrial development. What an outrage. But it works.
NEIGHBORS>> CHS mock Disaster
Drill prepares Cabot medical academy students for crisis
By Sara Greene
Leader staff writer
"Where’s my son? I heard there was an explosion! Where is he?” screamed a hysterical mother.
That was the scene as the Medical Academy at Cabot High-I (MACH-I) conducted two mock disaster drills Friday to help students get a feel for working during a crisis.
MACH-I used White County Medical Center’s Career and Medical Profession (CAMP) program. It is a six-day program requiring five days of classroom training. On the sixth day, the disaster drill allows students to work in tandem with Cabot’s emergency service and medical personnel from White County Medical Center.
Students in MACH-I are already certified in basic first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
“Several years ago we developed this program to get junior high school students interested in the health profession. Our program today is a little more advanced,” said Todd Wolfe, education coordinator at White County Medical Center.
Both disaster drills revolved around a mock explosion in the cafeteria. In the morning exercise, students shadowing the emergency response personnel found 17 “wounded” MACH-I students sprawled among overturned chairs in the cafeteria.
“We had the drama department help us out with the make-up for the injuries, the blood and gore,” said Randy Granderson, assistant principal and MACH-I director.
“We sent out notes with all the students and alerted our local law enforcement. We didn’t want passerbys to panic if they see the injured students and the ambulance. This is important for our students, but they can have fun with it too.”
The injuries included burns, spinal injuries, broken bones, cuts, bruises and shock. The emergency services students inventoried and assessed the wounded. Some of the victims moaned painfully while others giggled, unable to maintain an injured persona. The seriously injured were stabilized and taken by stretcher to the “hospital” in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps building. The less injured walked to the hospital.
Student administrators filled out forms and triage students ordered patients to radiology, lab/pharmacy, trauma, surgery or the waiting room. The entire building buzzed with the controlled chaos of an actual emergency room.
Granderson had some surprises in store for students participating in the morning disaster drill.
The trauma students were busy dealing with a seriously wounded patient when a hysterical woman came in screaming for her son.
Some stopped to stare and were encouraged to focus on their jobs by White County Medical Center emergency room staff. Students in hospital administration called codes for security to escort the woman, Mandee Carmical, a biology teacher at Cabot, from the area.
Moments later, Granderson feigned a heart attack and confusion ensued as both triage and trauma teams worked on him while more wounded arrived.
“It’s been fun, especially when Mrs. Carmical came in screaming like that,” said victim No. 10, holding a gauze pad on her facial laceration.
The entire disaster drill lasted about 45 minutes. Afterwards, students peeled off their bandages and wounds to participate in a brief question-and-answer session. The discussion focused on the variety of careers available in healthcare including accounting, administration and lab work.
“We’ve got CAMP copyrighted and we’ve received calls from all over, including California,” said Pam Williams, human resource director at White County Medical Center.
“There aren’t many programs like this. I’m enthusiastic about it. It shows students there’s more to the healthcare profession than just nursing,” she added.
By Sara Greene
Leader staff writer
"Where’s my son? I heard there was an explosion! Where is he?” screamed a hysterical mother.
That was the scene as the Medical Academy at Cabot High-I (MACH-I) conducted two mock disaster drills Friday to help students get a feel for working during a crisis.
MACH-I used White County Medical Center’s Career and Medical Profession (CAMP) program. It is a six-day program requiring five days of classroom training. On the sixth day, the disaster drill allows students to work in tandem with Cabot’s emergency service and medical personnel from White County Medical Center.
Students in MACH-I are already certified in basic first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
“Several years ago we developed this program to get junior high school students interested in the health profession. Our program today is a little more advanced,” said Todd Wolfe, education coordinator at White County Medical Center.
Both disaster drills revolved around a mock explosion in the cafeteria. In the morning exercise, students shadowing the emergency response personnel found 17 “wounded” MACH-I students sprawled among overturned chairs in the cafeteria.
“We had the drama department help us out with the make-up for the injuries, the blood and gore,” said Randy Granderson, assistant principal and MACH-I director.
“We sent out notes with all the students and alerted our local law enforcement. We didn’t want passerbys to panic if they see the injured students and the ambulance. This is important for our students, but they can have fun with it too.”
The injuries included burns, spinal injuries, broken bones, cuts, bruises and shock. The emergency services students inventoried and assessed the wounded. Some of the victims moaned painfully while others giggled, unable to maintain an injured persona. The seriously injured were stabilized and taken by stretcher to the “hospital” in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps building. The less injured walked to the hospital.
Student administrators filled out forms and triage students ordered patients to radiology, lab/pharmacy, trauma, surgery or the waiting room. The entire building buzzed with the controlled chaos of an actual emergency room.
Granderson had some surprises in store for students participating in the morning disaster drill.
The trauma students were busy dealing with a seriously wounded patient when a hysterical woman came in screaming for her son.
Some stopped to stare and were encouraged to focus on their jobs by White County Medical Center emergency room staff. Students in hospital administration called codes for security to escort the woman, Mandee Carmical, a biology teacher at Cabot, from the area.
Moments later, Granderson feigned a heart attack and confusion ensued as both triage and trauma teams worked on him while more wounded arrived.
“It’s been fun, especially when Mrs. Carmical came in screaming like that,” said victim No. 10, holding a gauze pad on her facial laceration.
The entire disaster drill lasted about 45 minutes. Afterwards, students peeled off their bandages and wounds to participate in a brief question-and-answer session. The discussion focused on the variety of careers available in healthcare including accounting, administration and lab work.
“We’ve got CAMP copyrighted and we’ve received calls from all over, including California,” said Pam Williams, human resource director at White County Medical Center.
“There aren’t many programs like this. I’m enthusiastic about it. It shows students there’s more to the healthcare profession than just nursing,” she added.
TOP STORY>> Metroplan could decide on overpass
IN SHORT: Cabot has to raise funds to get railroad bridge built early or wait several more years.
By Joan McCoy
Leader staff writer
The board of Metroplan, the agency that distributes federal highway money, meets today in Little Rock and could decide what steps Cabot must take toward construction of a railroad overpass this year.
The proposed Polk Street overpass is touted as the only means of keeping school buses off the railroad tracks and as the first step in a north interchange that would connect Highway 38 to Highway 5.
If the board decides the project will be considered for funding three years ahead of schedule, the city would need to raise about $700,000 for its 20 percent match for the $5 million project before contracts are signed with the state Highway Department, possibly in October.
The city’s alternative to raising the needed cash by fall is to set aside about $230,000 a year for the next three years and build the overpass in 2008, the original construction date. The city has set aside $260,000 since the project started about six years ago. The railroad also has agreed to pay about $75,000 for the actual bridge.
Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh says the overpass is a priority, but the city simply doesn’t have the money and he is opposed to raising taxes to pay for it.
Moving up the construction of the Cabot overpass was discussed during the February Metroplan meeting and since then two prospective candidates for mayor have gone public with their opinions about it.
Former Alderman Eddie Joe Williams, who announced his intention to run for mayor shortly after Stumbaugh took office, says the city should make every effort to build the overpass now. He criticized Stumbaugh during the March council meeting, saying the mayor is prepared to abandon the project over a feud with local developers.
The developers chose to annex into Austin rather than pay for infrastructure required by Cabot. The mayor denies that he used the overpass as leverage to keep Austin from annexing the upscale, 600-home subdivision, but says he believes that if part of the overpass is inside Austin city limits, Austin should pay for part of it.
Darren Waymack, one of the owners of the subdivision, said last week that a section of commercial property separates the residential subdivision from the proposed overpass.
Alderman David Polantz has not announced his candidacy, though Stumbaugh says Polantz intends to run for mayor. Polantz says only that several city residents have told him he should run.
Polantz has called a meeting for Monday of the council’s finance committee to discuss increasing the city millage from 3.5 to 4.5 to pay for the overpass and to build the community center. The center was budgeted at $3.5 million, including $500,000 for the dirt work. But the low bid for construction came in $1.2 million over budget.
Polantz says he wants to take the millage increase and 20-year bonds for the overpass and community center to the voters for approval.
If the millage increase is not approved, the city should save toward building the overpass in 2008 and downsize the community center to fit the $3 million available to build it, he said.
If the millage is approved it would not be collected until 2006. The city could use the $260,000 set aside to build the overpass to make payments until revenue from the increased millage comes in, he said. The increased millage would raise about $160,000 a year, he said.
Once allies, Stumbaugh now criticizes Polantz for making too many demands on city employees’ time and for trying to pass legislation that would diminish his control at city hall.
The mayor said Tuesday that he was aware that Polantz had called a finance committee meeting, but if Metroplan says Cabot might be in the running for project funding this year, he intends to call a meeting of the full council instead for the same time, 7 p.m. Monday.
He wants all eight council members involved in the discussion, he said.
Jim McKenzie, Metroplan executive director, apologized for the uproar that followed the announcement that the overpass could be funded this year.
McKenzie said Tuesday that nothing is certain until the end of August when the federal fiscal year ends. At that time it will be known definitely whether projects in Little Rock that are ahead of Cabot’s will be ready for construction.
If they aren’t, then the Cabot overpass could be next in line because it appears ready to go. The engineering has been completed. The public hearings have been held and the rights-of-way have been acquired at a total cost of about $450,000 with Cabot paying about $90,000.
But McKenzie emphasized that nothing is certain at this point. He said Metroplan staff is constantly monitoring progress on Little Rock projects that have been in the works for a decade and that at this point all he can do is recommend to Cabot to get ready in case those other projects are held up.
“This stuff is so soft, it would be hard to give a hard answer on it,” McKenzie said of the availability of federal funds this year for the Cabot overpass.
By Joan McCoy
Leader staff writer
The board of Metroplan, the agency that distributes federal highway money, meets today in Little Rock and could decide what steps Cabot must take toward construction of a railroad overpass this year.
The proposed Polk Street overpass is touted as the only means of keeping school buses off the railroad tracks and as the first step in a north interchange that would connect Highway 38 to Highway 5.
If the board decides the project will be considered for funding three years ahead of schedule, the city would need to raise about $700,000 for its 20 percent match for the $5 million project before contracts are signed with the state Highway Department, possibly in October.
The city’s alternative to raising the needed cash by fall is to set aside about $230,000 a year for the next three years and build the overpass in 2008, the original construction date. The city has set aside $260,000 since the project started about six years ago. The railroad also has agreed to pay about $75,000 for the actual bridge.
Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh says the overpass is a priority, but the city simply doesn’t have the money and he is opposed to raising taxes to pay for it.
Moving up the construction of the Cabot overpass was discussed during the February Metroplan meeting and since then two prospective candidates for mayor have gone public with their opinions about it.
Former Alderman Eddie Joe Williams, who announced his intention to run for mayor shortly after Stumbaugh took office, says the city should make every effort to build the overpass now. He criticized Stumbaugh during the March council meeting, saying the mayor is prepared to abandon the project over a feud with local developers.
The developers chose to annex into Austin rather than pay for infrastructure required by Cabot. The mayor denies that he used the overpass as leverage to keep Austin from annexing the upscale, 600-home subdivision, but says he believes that if part of the overpass is inside Austin city limits, Austin should pay for part of it.
Darren Waymack, one of the owners of the subdivision, said last week that a section of commercial property separates the residential subdivision from the proposed overpass.
Alderman David Polantz has not announced his candidacy, though Stumbaugh says Polantz intends to run for mayor. Polantz says only that several city residents have told him he should run.
Polantz has called a meeting for Monday of the council’s finance committee to discuss increasing the city millage from 3.5 to 4.5 to pay for the overpass and to build the community center. The center was budgeted at $3.5 million, including $500,000 for the dirt work. But the low bid for construction came in $1.2 million over budget.
Polantz says he wants to take the millage increase and 20-year bonds for the overpass and community center to the voters for approval.
If the millage increase is not approved, the city should save toward building the overpass in 2008 and downsize the community center to fit the $3 million available to build it, he said.
If the millage is approved it would not be collected until 2006. The city could use the $260,000 set aside to build the overpass to make payments until revenue from the increased millage comes in, he said. The increased millage would raise about $160,000 a year, he said.
Once allies, Stumbaugh now criticizes Polantz for making too many demands on city employees’ time and for trying to pass legislation that would diminish his control at city hall.
The mayor said Tuesday that he was aware that Polantz had called a finance committee meeting, but if Metroplan says Cabot might be in the running for project funding this year, he intends to call a meeting of the full council instead for the same time, 7 p.m. Monday.
He wants all eight council members involved in the discussion, he said.
Jim McKenzie, Metroplan executive director, apologized for the uproar that followed the announcement that the overpass could be funded this year.
McKenzie said Tuesday that nothing is certain until the end of August when the federal fiscal year ends. At that time it will be known definitely whether projects in Little Rock that are ahead of Cabot’s will be ready for construction.
If they aren’t, then the Cabot overpass could be next in line because it appears ready to go. The engineering has been completed. The public hearings have been held and the rights-of-way have been acquired at a total cost of about $450,000 with Cabot paying about $90,000.
But McKenzie emphasized that nothing is certain at this point. He said Metroplan staff is constantly monitoring progress on Little Rock projects that have been in the works for a decade and that at this point all he can do is recommend to Cabot to get ready in case those other projects are held up.
“This stuff is so soft, it would be hard to give a hard answer on it,” McKenzie said of the availability of federal funds this year for the Cabot overpass.
TOP STORY>> Metroplan could decide on overpass
IN SHORT: Cabot has to raise funds to get railroad bridge built early or wait several more years.
By Joan McCoy
Leader staff writer
The board of Metroplan, the agency that distributes federal highway money, meets today in Little Rock and could decide what steps Cabot must take toward construction of a railroad overpass this year.
The proposed Polk Street overpass is touted as the only means of keeping school buses off the railroad tracks and as the first step in a north interchange that would connect Highway 38 to Highway 5.
If the board decides the project will be considered for funding three years ahead of schedule, the city would need to raise about $700,000 for its 20 percent match for the $5 million project before contracts are signed with the state Highway Department, possibly in October.
The city’s alternative to raising the needed cash by fall is to set aside about $230,000 a year for the next three years and build the overpass in 2008, the original construction date. The city has set aside $260,000 since the project started about six years ago. The railroad also has agreed to pay about $75,000 for the actual bridge.
Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh says the overpass is a priority, but the city simply doesn’t have the money and he is opposed to raising taxes to pay for it.
Moving up the construction of the Cabot overpass was discussed during the February Metroplan meeting and since then two prospective candidates for mayor have gone public with their opinions about it.
Former Alderman Eddie Joe Williams, who announced his intention to run for mayor shortly after Stumbaugh took office, says the city should make every effort to build the overpass now. He criticized Stumbaugh during the March council meeting, saying the mayor is prepared to abandon the project over a feud with local developers.
The developers chose to annex into Austin rather than pay for infrastructure required by Cabot. The mayor denies that he used the overpass as leverage to keep Austin from annexing the upscale, 600-home subdivision, but says he believes that if part of the overpass is inside Austin city limits, Austin should pay for part of it.
Darren Waymack, one of the owners of the subdivision, said last week that a section of commercial property separates the residential subdivision from the proposed overpass.
Alderman David Polantz has not announced his candidacy, though Stumbaugh says Polantz intends to run for mayor. Polantz says only that several city residents have told him he should run.
Polantz has called a meeting for Monday of the council’s finance committee to discuss increasing the city millage from 3.5 to 4.5 to pay for the overpass and to build the community center. The center was budgeted at $3.5 million, including $500,000 for the dirt work. But the low bid for construction came in $1.2 million over budget.
Polantz says he wants to take the millage increase and 20-year bonds for the overpass and community center to the voters for approval.
If the millage increase is not approved, the city should save toward building the overpass in 2008 and downsize the community center to fit the $3 million available to build it, he said.
If the millage is approved it would not be collected until 2006. The city could use the $260,000 set aside to build the overpass to make payments until revenue from the increased millage comes in, he said. The increased millage would raise about $160,000 a year, he said.
Once allies, Stumbaugh now criticizes Polantz for making too many demands on city employees’ time and for trying to pass legislation that would diminish his control at city hall.
The mayor said Tuesday that he was aware that Polantz had called a finance committee meeting, but if Metroplan says Cabot might be in the running for project funding this year, he intends to call a meeting of the full council instead for the same time, 7 p.m. Monday.
He wants all eight council members involved in the discussion, he said.
Jim McKenzie, Metroplan executive director, apologized for the uproar that followed the announcement that the overpass could be funded this year.
McKenzie said Tuesday that nothing is certain until the end of August when the federal fiscal year ends. At that time it will be known definitely whether projects in Little Rock that are ahead of Cabot’s will be ready for construction.
If they aren’t, then the Cabot overpass could be next in line because it appears ready to go. The engineering has been completed. The public hearings have been held and the rights-of-way have been acquired at a total cost of about $450,000 with Cabot paying about $90,000.
But McKenzie emphasized that nothing is certain at this point. He said Metroplan staff is constantly monitoring progress on Little Rock projects that have been in the works for a decade and that at this point all he can do is recommend to Cabot to get ready in case those other projects are held up.
“This stuff is so soft, it would be hard to give a hard answer on it,” McKenzie said of the availability of federal funds this year for the Cabot overpass.
By Joan McCoy
Leader staff writer
The board of Metroplan, the agency that distributes federal highway money, meets today in Little Rock and could decide what steps Cabot must take toward construction of a railroad overpass this year.
The proposed Polk Street overpass is touted as the only means of keeping school buses off the railroad tracks and as the first step in a north interchange that would connect Highway 38 to Highway 5.
If the board decides the project will be considered for funding three years ahead of schedule, the city would need to raise about $700,000 for its 20 percent match for the $5 million project before contracts are signed with the state Highway Department, possibly in October.
The city’s alternative to raising the needed cash by fall is to set aside about $230,000 a year for the next three years and build the overpass in 2008, the original construction date. The city has set aside $260,000 since the project started about six years ago. The railroad also has agreed to pay about $75,000 for the actual bridge.
Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh says the overpass is a priority, but the city simply doesn’t have the money and he is opposed to raising taxes to pay for it.
Moving up the construction of the Cabot overpass was discussed during the February Metroplan meeting and since then two prospective candidates for mayor have gone public with their opinions about it.
Former Alderman Eddie Joe Williams, who announced his intention to run for mayor shortly after Stumbaugh took office, says the city should make every effort to build the overpass now. He criticized Stumbaugh during the March council meeting, saying the mayor is prepared to abandon the project over a feud with local developers.
The developers chose to annex into Austin rather than pay for infrastructure required by Cabot. The mayor denies that he used the overpass as leverage to keep Austin from annexing the upscale, 600-home subdivision, but says he believes that if part of the overpass is inside Austin city limits, Austin should pay for part of it.
Darren Waymack, one of the owners of the subdivision, said last week that a section of commercial property separates the residential subdivision from the proposed overpass.
Alderman David Polantz has not announced his candidacy, though Stumbaugh says Polantz intends to run for mayor. Polantz says only that several city residents have told him he should run.
Polantz has called a meeting for Monday of the council’s finance committee to discuss increasing the city millage from 3.5 to 4.5 to pay for the overpass and to build the community center. The center was budgeted at $3.5 million, including $500,000 for the dirt work. But the low bid for construction came in $1.2 million over budget.
Polantz says he wants to take the millage increase and 20-year bonds for the overpass and community center to the voters for approval.
If the millage increase is not approved, the city should save toward building the overpass in 2008 and downsize the community center to fit the $3 million available to build it, he said.
If the millage is approved it would not be collected until 2006. The city could use the $260,000 set aside to build the overpass to make payments until revenue from the increased millage comes in, he said. The increased millage would raise about $160,000 a year, he said.
Once allies, Stumbaugh now criticizes Polantz for making too many demands on city employees’ time and for trying to pass legislation that would diminish his control at city hall.
The mayor said Tuesday that he was aware that Polantz had called a finance committee meeting, but if Metroplan says Cabot might be in the running for project funding this year, he intends to call a meeting of the full council instead for the same time, 7 p.m. Monday.
He wants all eight council members involved in the discussion, he said.
Jim McKenzie, Metroplan executive director, apologized for the uproar that followed the announcement that the overpass could be funded this year.
McKenzie said Tuesday that nothing is certain until the end of August when the federal fiscal year ends. At that time it will be known definitely whether projects in Little Rock that are ahead of Cabot’s will be ready for construction.
If they aren’t, then the Cabot overpass could be next in line because it appears ready to go. The engineering has been completed. The public hearings have been held and the rights-of-way have been acquired at a total cost of about $450,000 with Cabot paying about $90,000.
But McKenzie emphasized that nothing is certain at this point. He said Metroplan staff is constantly monitoring progress on Little Rock projects that have been in the works for a decade and that at this point all he can do is recommend to Cabot to get ready in case those other projects are held up.
“This stuff is so soft, it would be hard to give a hard answer on it,” McKenzie said of the availability of federal funds this year for the Cabot overpass.
TOP STORY >> Cabot is seeking more for schools
IN SHORT: Proposed funding plan would mean an $800,000 cut, but Beebe would get more.
increase.
By Sara Greene
Leader staff writer
Cabot School Superintendent Frank Holman is appealing to district residents to call legislators and ask them to vote against House Bills 2508 and 2509 and companion Senate Bill 970, which would reduce funding for Cabot Schools.
Holman said the facilities funding formula in the bills will take away $800,000 from Cabot Public Schools.
In a mass e-mail sent Monday from the Cabot Chamber of Commerce, Holman urged residents to call state Reps. Susan Shulte, Lenville Evans and state Sen. Bobby Glover to stop the bills from passing.
The current facilities funding formula uses a wealth-index to determine how much the state would distribute to the districts.
“This is a political method of redistributing facilities funding to powerful legislator’s districts without consideration of equity, adequacy and fairness. We will definitely be back to the Supreme Court as a result of these bills passing,” Holman said in the e-mail.
“I can’t support that bill,” said Sen. Glover. “The sponsors of those bills have turned the tables on schools like Cabot and Alma. The bill takes money away from poorer schools.”
“There’s been talk of a lawsuit if they pass the bill because what is in that bill now is not what the federal government instructed our state to do. All the calls I’ve received about this funding formula have been negative,” Glover said.
Holman is asking Glover to propose an impact study of all the districts in Arkansas to see how the bills would affect current and future debt payments.
But Beebe Public Schools would benefit from the bills being considered, but officials don’t how much yet.
“We would actually gain from the current bills and we’re among some of the poorest districts in the state,” said Belinda Shook, assistant superintendent at Beebe Public Schools who will become superintendent in July.
increase.
By Sara Greene
Leader staff writer
Cabot School Superintendent Frank Holman is appealing to district residents to call legislators and ask them to vote against House Bills 2508 and 2509 and companion Senate Bill 970, which would reduce funding for Cabot Schools.
Holman said the facilities funding formula in the bills will take away $800,000 from Cabot Public Schools.
In a mass e-mail sent Monday from the Cabot Chamber of Commerce, Holman urged residents to call state Reps. Susan Shulte, Lenville Evans and state Sen. Bobby Glover to stop the bills from passing.
The current facilities funding formula uses a wealth-index to determine how much the state would distribute to the districts.
“This is a political method of redistributing facilities funding to powerful legislator’s districts without consideration of equity, adequacy and fairness. We will definitely be back to the Supreme Court as a result of these bills passing,” Holman said in the e-mail.
“I can’t support that bill,” said Sen. Glover. “The sponsors of those bills have turned the tables on schools like Cabot and Alma. The bill takes money away from poorer schools.”
“There’s been talk of a lawsuit if they pass the bill because what is in that bill now is not what the federal government instructed our state to do. All the calls I’ve received about this funding formula have been negative,” Glover said.
Holman is asking Glover to propose an impact study of all the districts in Arkansas to see how the bills would affect current and future debt payments.
But Beebe Public Schools would benefit from the bills being considered, but officials don’t how much yet.
“We would actually gain from the current bills and we’re among some of the poorest districts in the state,” said Belinda Shook, assistant superintendent at Beebe Public Schools who will become superintendent in July.
TOP STORY>> Soldiers glad to leave war zone in Iraq
By SARA GREENE
Leader staff writer
LIFE “OVER THERE”
Most of the soldiers returning from Iraq talk about the sand, but Spc. Hudson Hendricks remembers the water.
His living quarters were in a basement of a guardhouse at one of Uday Hussein’s abandoned palaces near the Tigress River. It flooded five times during Hendricks’ year-long tour. At one point, the floor had six inches of standing water in it for over a week.
“It was in pretty bad shape. We spent a lot of money to fix it up,” he said.
Hendricks arrived back in Searcy on Saturday, after a week of debriefing at Fort Sill, Okla.
Hendricks is a member of the 39th Infantry Brigade and was stationed with 120 soldiers at Fort Apache in the Al-Adhamiya district of old Bahgdad. Their mission was daily peacekeeping patrols in the area.
“There was a little while I didn’t really expect to come home. There’d be rumors that we’d be extended and the rumors would really drive you crazy. You had to not listen because very few of them were ever true,” Hendricks said.
Despite the flooding problems with his quarters, the sand still found its way into everything. He said when soldiers finished with their electronic games, CD and DVD players, they wrapped them up in towels to save them from the ubiquitous sand.
Like many other members of the 39th, Hendricks missed his American diet. Some of the older and larger camps in Iraq have post exchanges and fast-food outlets. There’s a Burger King at Camp Taji, where many members of the 39th were stationed.
Hendricks and the others at Fort Apache lived off Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) for more than two months. Eventually they were able to coordinate traveling to a neighboring military post 20 minutes away to bring back one hot meal a day.
A local vendor was allowed to sell the soldiers of Fort Apache snacks and drinks.
“Ali sold us sodas, but no Dr. Pepper whatsoever, and chips nobody had ever heard of. When we were leaving and I got to the chow hall in Kuwait, I ate pancakes everyday, I missed them and I missed McDonald’s,” he said.
Hendricks was an apprentice brick mason when he left for Iraq. Now he plans to go to college at either University of Central Arkansas in Conway or Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
“Being back hasn’t really sunk in yet. When I drive, I have to remind myself to not drive down the middle of the road like we do over there,” he said.
ARRIVING HOME
Hog calls and Razorback-style welcomes have greeted the Arkansas troops arriving at Fort Sill.
When the group of 39th Infantry Brigade soldiers marched onto the floor of the Rinehart Physical Fitness Center at Fort Sill over two weeks ago, they were met with a roaring welcome from family and friends in the bleachers.
“It was the same reaction you get at a Razorback football game when the team takes the field. It was quite an emotional event,” said Steve Teague of Jacksonville.
Teague and his wife, Vicki, drove to Fort Sill to welcome home their son SSgt. Chris Teague, among the first group of returning soldiers from the 39th Infantry Brigade. Vicki Teague’s parents, Jack and Pat Boyd and Ray and Betty Pennington, also made the trip, eager to see their grandson.
“It was very emotional to see him. He had grown a moustache and it made him look older, more mature,” Steve Teague said. “We got to see him quite a bit of the total seven days he was there and we went out to eat a lot.”
During the days when SSgt. Teague was busy, his family toured the military museum at Fort Sill and went sightseeing locally. They also waited while he caught up on sleep and visited with fellow soldiers.
“The bond between soldiers is strong, they really become buddies. In my opinion those soldiers probably ran on adrenaline for the past year working 12-14 hour days,” said his father.
Teague’s grandparents June and Larry Bonham were among family members eagerly waiting when the Teagues brought Chris back to Jacksonville the following week.
“The weather was just too rainy for a party, so I told him and his cousin I’ll take them all over to Western Sizzlin to eat out for steak night,” June Bonham said.
STILL WAITING
Most soldiers stay at Fort Sill a week for debriefing, but some soldiers, like Sgt. Michelle Franks of Jacksonville, have stayed longer in Fort Sill for additional training and briefings.
“She’s still there. She had to go to some extra classes, but she’ll be home about April 7,” said Michael Franks.
Michael Franks traveled to Fort Sill to see his wife when she arrived there with the first group of soldiers. Sgt. Franks is a medic with the 39th Infantry Brigade and was stationed at Camp Taji.
Leader staff writer
LIFE “OVER THERE”
Most of the soldiers returning from Iraq talk about the sand, but Spc. Hudson Hendricks remembers the water.
His living quarters were in a basement of a guardhouse at one of Uday Hussein’s abandoned palaces near the Tigress River. It flooded five times during Hendricks’ year-long tour. At one point, the floor had six inches of standing water in it for over a week.
“It was in pretty bad shape. We spent a lot of money to fix it up,” he said.
Hendricks arrived back in Searcy on Saturday, after a week of debriefing at Fort Sill, Okla.
Hendricks is a member of the 39th Infantry Brigade and was stationed with 120 soldiers at Fort Apache in the Al-Adhamiya district of old Bahgdad. Their mission was daily peacekeeping patrols in the area.
“There was a little while I didn’t really expect to come home. There’d be rumors that we’d be extended and the rumors would really drive you crazy. You had to not listen because very few of them were ever true,” Hendricks said.
Despite the flooding problems with his quarters, the sand still found its way into everything. He said when soldiers finished with their electronic games, CD and DVD players, they wrapped them up in towels to save them from the ubiquitous sand.
Like many other members of the 39th, Hendricks missed his American diet. Some of the older and larger camps in Iraq have post exchanges and fast-food outlets. There’s a Burger King at Camp Taji, where many members of the 39th were stationed.
Hendricks and the others at Fort Apache lived off Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) for more than two months. Eventually they were able to coordinate traveling to a neighboring military post 20 minutes away to bring back one hot meal a day.
A local vendor was allowed to sell the soldiers of Fort Apache snacks and drinks.
“Ali sold us sodas, but no Dr. Pepper whatsoever, and chips nobody had ever heard of. When we were leaving and I got to the chow hall in Kuwait, I ate pancakes everyday, I missed them and I missed McDonald’s,” he said.
Hendricks was an apprentice brick mason when he left for Iraq. Now he plans to go to college at either University of Central Arkansas in Conway or Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
“Being back hasn’t really sunk in yet. When I drive, I have to remind myself to not drive down the middle of the road like we do over there,” he said.
ARRIVING HOME
Hog calls and Razorback-style welcomes have greeted the Arkansas troops arriving at Fort Sill.
When the group of 39th Infantry Brigade soldiers marched onto the floor of the Rinehart Physical Fitness Center at Fort Sill over two weeks ago, they were met with a roaring welcome from family and friends in the bleachers.
“It was the same reaction you get at a Razorback football game when the team takes the field. It was quite an emotional event,” said Steve Teague of Jacksonville.
Teague and his wife, Vicki, drove to Fort Sill to welcome home their son SSgt. Chris Teague, among the first group of returning soldiers from the 39th Infantry Brigade. Vicki Teague’s parents, Jack and Pat Boyd and Ray and Betty Pennington, also made the trip, eager to see their grandson.
“It was very emotional to see him. He had grown a moustache and it made him look older, more mature,” Steve Teague said. “We got to see him quite a bit of the total seven days he was there and we went out to eat a lot.”
During the days when SSgt. Teague was busy, his family toured the military museum at Fort Sill and went sightseeing locally. They also waited while he caught up on sleep and visited with fellow soldiers.
“The bond between soldiers is strong, they really become buddies. In my opinion those soldiers probably ran on adrenaline for the past year working 12-14 hour days,” said his father.
Teague’s grandparents June and Larry Bonham were among family members eagerly waiting when the Teagues brought Chris back to Jacksonville the following week.
“The weather was just too rainy for a party, so I told him and his cousin I’ll take them all over to Western Sizzlin to eat out for steak night,” June Bonham said.
STILL WAITING
Most soldiers stay at Fort Sill a week for debriefing, but some soldiers, like Sgt. Michelle Franks of Jacksonville, have stayed longer in Fort Sill for additional training and briefings.
“She’s still there. She had to go to some extra classes, but she’ll be home about April 7,” said Michael Franks.
Michael Franks traveled to Fort Sill to see his wife when she arrived there with the first group of soldiers. Sgt. Franks is a medic with the 39th Infantry Brigade and was stationed at Camp Taji.
TOP STORY >> General to fly new C-130J to air base
IN SHORT: Despite defense cuts, LRAFB will get its second new plane, with more scheduled for May, June, October, November and December.
By John Hofheimer
Leader staff writer
With Lt. Gen. John R. Baker, vice commander of the Air Mobility Command, at the stick, Little Rock Air Force Base’s second C-130J should touch down on Tuesday, with five more to follow before the end of the year, according to 2nd Lt. Jon Quinlan.
Additional planes are scheduled to arrive in May, June, October, November and December, he said.
Currently the base has one J-model of its own and two on loan from reserve units.
The U.S. military already has received 50 of the 117 planes in the original order with Lockheed- Martin, but the proposed Pentagon budget would pull the plug on most of the rest, diverting about $5 billion in alleged savings to the Army, according to Cong. Vic Snyder.
Published reports put the cost of each plane between $63 million and $83 million
The Defense Department submitted a 2006 budget that phased out C-130J purchases, but the fleet of C-130s is aging without a suitable substitute in sight. Thirty of the older planes were grounded last month and another 60 were put on restricted duty.
Adding to the uncertainty, the Defense Department this week took over major acquisition responsibilities—temporarily, it said—from the Air Force.
Neither Snyder, D-Little Rock, nor Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Little Rock, would speculate what effect that change would have upon the C-130J acquisition program.
The Defense Department has scrutinized Air Force acquisitions since procurement chief Darleen A. Druyan showed Boeing favoritism, then took a job with the defense contractor. Air Force Secretary James G. Roche and acquisitions chief Marvin R. Sambur resigned over a rigged Boeing air tanker contract last year.
Then Undersecretary Peter B. Teets—the acting secretary—retired last week.
Asked if this were a power grab by the Defense Department or a way to derail Air Force acquisitions the Pentagon didn’t like, a spokes-man for Pryor said that was one of several possibilities.
“One (reason) could very well be their dislike of some of these programs,” said Rodell Mollineau, a Pryor spokesman. “Another is (that the takeover is) a response to the way the Air Force handled the Boeing tanker incident.”
“The Air Force is without several of its top civilian leaders, and oversight has to come from somewhere,” he added.
“At this point, we take the Department of Defense at its word when they say this is a temporary takeover, and we urge the president to nominate a new secretary of the Air Force quickly so that the Air Force may resume its acquistion oversight role,” Mollineau said.
Snyder said he didn’t know why the Defense Department took the step. But he doesn’t think it bodes ill for the C-130J.
“I’m very optimistic that it’s going to be retained," said Snyder. “Secretary (Donald) Rumsfeld has said very clearly that he’s revisiting the decision to cut the program.”
Snyder said several top Air Force generals had made very strong statements about the C-130J. They’ve apparently been given more the latitude to keep the plane.
“I’m confident that the J is an important part of the future of moving people and materials in the wars of the future,” Snyder said.
The Department of Defense announced March 25 “that to ensure continuity of program oversight during this time of transition with a new acting secretary of the Air Force, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technolo-gy and Logistics Michael Wynne has designated all major defense acquisition programs managed by the Air Force and designated ACAT (acquisition category) 1C programs to temporarily be placed under his authority.”
Wynne will work with acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael L. Dominguez until oversight of these programs is returned to the Air Force.
Initial concern that a freeze on a new C-130J simulator for Little Rock Air Force Base foreshadowed the end of the program has eased with the knowledge that all unawarded construction contracts throughout the military apparently have been put on hold until the next round of base closings is completed, according to Snyder.
He said it was reasonable to stop spending for construction on bases until Congress decides which bases will be closed this year.
By John Hofheimer
Leader staff writer
With Lt. Gen. John R. Baker, vice commander of the Air Mobility Command, at the stick, Little Rock Air Force Base’s second C-130J should touch down on Tuesday, with five more to follow before the end of the year, according to 2nd Lt. Jon Quinlan.
Additional planes are scheduled to arrive in May, June, October, November and December, he said.
Currently the base has one J-model of its own and two on loan from reserve units.
The U.S. military already has received 50 of the 117 planes in the original order with Lockheed- Martin, but the proposed Pentagon budget would pull the plug on most of the rest, diverting about $5 billion in alleged savings to the Army, according to Cong. Vic Snyder.
Published reports put the cost of each plane between $63 million and $83 million
The Defense Department submitted a 2006 budget that phased out C-130J purchases, but the fleet of C-130s is aging without a suitable substitute in sight. Thirty of the older planes were grounded last month and another 60 were put on restricted duty.
Adding to the uncertainty, the Defense Department this week took over major acquisition responsibilities—temporarily, it said—from the Air Force.
Neither Snyder, D-Little Rock, nor Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Little Rock, would speculate what effect that change would have upon the C-130J acquisition program.
The Defense Department has scrutinized Air Force acquisitions since procurement chief Darleen A. Druyan showed Boeing favoritism, then took a job with the defense contractor. Air Force Secretary James G. Roche and acquisitions chief Marvin R. Sambur resigned over a rigged Boeing air tanker contract last year.
Then Undersecretary Peter B. Teets—the acting secretary—retired last week.
Asked if this were a power grab by the Defense Department or a way to derail Air Force acquisitions the Pentagon didn’t like, a spokes-man for Pryor said that was one of several possibilities.
“One (reason) could very well be their dislike of some of these programs,” said Rodell Mollineau, a Pryor spokesman. “Another is (that the takeover is) a response to the way the Air Force handled the Boeing tanker incident.”
“The Air Force is without several of its top civilian leaders, and oversight has to come from somewhere,” he added.
“At this point, we take the Department of Defense at its word when they say this is a temporary takeover, and we urge the president to nominate a new secretary of the Air Force quickly so that the Air Force may resume its acquistion oversight role,” Mollineau said.
Snyder said he didn’t know why the Defense Department took the step. But he doesn’t think it bodes ill for the C-130J.
“I’m very optimistic that it’s going to be retained," said Snyder. “Secretary (Donald) Rumsfeld has said very clearly that he’s revisiting the decision to cut the program.”
Snyder said several top Air Force generals had made very strong statements about the C-130J. They’ve apparently been given more the latitude to keep the plane.
“I’m confident that the J is an important part of the future of moving people and materials in the wars of the future,” Snyder said.
The Department of Defense announced March 25 “that to ensure continuity of program oversight during this time of transition with a new acting secretary of the Air Force, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technolo-gy and Logistics Michael Wynne has designated all major defense acquisition programs managed by the Air Force and designated ACAT (acquisition category) 1C programs to temporarily be placed under his authority.”
Wynne will work with acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael L. Dominguez until oversight of these programs is returned to the Air Force.
Initial concern that a freeze on a new C-130J simulator for Little Rock Air Force Base foreshadowed the end of the program has eased with the knowledge that all unawarded construction contracts throughout the military apparently have been put on hold until the next round of base closings is completed, according to Snyder.
He said it was reasonable to stop spending for construction on bases until Congress decides which bases will be closed this year.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
NEIGHBORS>> Whiz kids
About 4,000 people eased on down the road to Cabot to attend performances of “The Wiz” at Cabot High School last week.
“The Wiz” has been both a 1975 Broadway musical and a 1978 film adaptation of the play.
Both are based on “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” novel by L. Frank Baum.
“The best thing about our productions is, when the curtain goes up, it’s all student run,” said Jane Balgavy, director of forensics, theater and debate at Cabot High School.
“They do the best job of preparing and getting ready.”
Student directors were Amanda Price and Jolene Pitt. Ticket director was Leeann Boyd.
Although the movie version was set in urban Brooklyn, Cabot’s version still takes place in Kansas, but there was no ruby slippers for this Dorothy played by Nikki George. She sported rhinestone pumps.
The primary cast included Keith Ballentine as the Scarecrow, Taylor Self as the Tinman and Ryan Madding as the Lion, Emily Summers as Auntie Em, Corey Spangler as Uncle Henry, Jessica Bradley as Adaperle, P.J. Jordan as The Wiz, Kyle Hardy as the Gatekeeper, Megan Houston as Evillene, Andrew Mobbs as Lord High Underling, Amber Mitchell as the Messenger and Josh Lee as the Winged Monkey.
The tornado cast, dancing across the stage with streamers in a calaphony of cataclysmic action, included Brooke Chaney, Lauren Fuller, Laura Green, Jessica Hale, Megan Houston, Jobeth Jackson, Sherellle Moise, Ashley Petit, Aly Roberts, Cesiley Sullivan and Samantha Walker.
The Munchkins cast included Hayden Balgavy, Katie Brooks, Daniel Carron, Megan Clark, Brooke Davenport, Jesse Davis, Courtney Fairchild, Jerry Gorman, Tori Houston, Christina Huynh, Erin Larsen, Jessica Lindsey, Amy Love, Anthony Micco, Kayla Miller and Sammy Petit.
The poppies cast included Kaycee Carmical, Whitney Dodson, Lindsey Frizzel, Jennifer Gray, Marley Huckabee, Jordan Meyer, Amber Mitchell, Laura Neumann, Ariana Ocampo and Jordyn Voegele.
The Yellow Brick Road cast included Brooke Chaney, Jessica Hale, Jobeth Jackson, Sherelle Moise, Ashley Petit, Cesiley Sullivan, Samantha Walker and Courtney Gorman.
Cast members appearing as The Winkies included Anthony Micco, Katie Brooks, Jerry Gorman, Tori Houston, Hayden Balgavy, Taylor Brown, Megan Clark, Brooke Davenport, Jesse Davis, Courtney Fairchild, Lindsey Frizzell, Lauren Fuller, Jennifer Gray, Lauren Green.
Also Marley Huckabee, Christina Huynh, Erin Laren, Jessica Lindsey, Amy Love, Jordan Meyer, Kayla Miller, Laura Neumann, Ariana Ocampo, Sammy Petit, Chris Pounders, Aly Roberts, Faith Terry and Jordan Voegle.
The Emerald City Citizens cast included Sam Walker, Sarah Ransom, Samantha Young, Brittany Beach, Daniel Carron, Brooke Chaney, Courtney Gorman, Jerry Gorman, Michelle Gorton, Jessica Hale, Carley Hays, Tori Houston, Leeann Hutson, Sarah Hylano, Jobeth Jackson, Bethany Kemper, Ashley Meleney, Anthony Micco, Sherelle Moise, Hayden Balgavy, Sammy Petit, Rebecca Roy, Cesiley Sullivan, Britanny Sumler, Faith Terry and Samantha Walker.
The Mice Squad included Caleb Barnhart, Adam Flemming, Joey Joslin and Reece Owens and the The Crows included Adam Flemming, Taylor Brown, Josh Lee, Corey Spangler and Chris Pounders.
No musical is complete without live music. The all student orchestra was conducted by Chuck Massey.
Performers include Tony Hall, Katie Estes, Daniel Gates, Kevin Jeriggan, Zac Taylor and Neil Spurlin on trumpet, Tiffany Abbott and Haty Bittle on clarinet,Veronica Harrell on violin, Janet Lee on cello, Shelli Mann, Johnathan Hill and Elton Tevebaugh on saxophone, Christi Sturdy on baritone, Tyler Troutman and Hayden Scott on percussion, Cory Nelson, Justin Gray, Joel Head and Aaron Willis on trombone, Erin Patterson and Amy Baldwin on horn and Michelle Mantione on flute and piccolo, Kevin Lenners and Dylan Huchel on guitar,Cory Nelson on bass and faculty member Laura Vaughn on piano.
Brandon Boykin was assistant to the conductor.
Gwen Brooks was the technical director, choregrapher and assistant director was Ashley McMahan, costume designer was Debra Catton.
“It’s just great to see teamwork like this with such a large production,” Balgavy said.
In April the students will perform a touring production of “School House Rock” based on the catchy Saturday morning public service announcements.
The students will also host the “Pirates and Princesses” theater shop for elementary students interested in theater.
“The Wiz” has been both a 1975 Broadway musical and a 1978 film adaptation of the play.
Both are based on “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” novel by L. Frank Baum.
“The best thing about our productions is, when the curtain goes up, it’s all student run,” said Jane Balgavy, director of forensics, theater and debate at Cabot High School.
“They do the best job of preparing and getting ready.”
Student directors were Amanda Price and Jolene Pitt. Ticket director was Leeann Boyd.
Although the movie version was set in urban Brooklyn, Cabot’s version still takes place in Kansas, but there was no ruby slippers for this Dorothy played by Nikki George. She sported rhinestone pumps.
The primary cast included Keith Ballentine as the Scarecrow, Taylor Self as the Tinman and Ryan Madding as the Lion, Emily Summers as Auntie Em, Corey Spangler as Uncle Henry, Jessica Bradley as Adaperle, P.J. Jordan as The Wiz, Kyle Hardy as the Gatekeeper, Megan Houston as Evillene, Andrew Mobbs as Lord High Underling, Amber Mitchell as the Messenger and Josh Lee as the Winged Monkey.
The tornado cast, dancing across the stage with streamers in a calaphony of cataclysmic action, included Brooke Chaney, Lauren Fuller, Laura Green, Jessica Hale, Megan Houston, Jobeth Jackson, Sherellle Moise, Ashley Petit, Aly Roberts, Cesiley Sullivan and Samantha Walker.
The Munchkins cast included Hayden Balgavy, Katie Brooks, Daniel Carron, Megan Clark, Brooke Davenport, Jesse Davis, Courtney Fairchild, Jerry Gorman, Tori Houston, Christina Huynh, Erin Larsen, Jessica Lindsey, Amy Love, Anthony Micco, Kayla Miller and Sammy Petit.
The poppies cast included Kaycee Carmical, Whitney Dodson, Lindsey Frizzel, Jennifer Gray, Marley Huckabee, Jordan Meyer, Amber Mitchell, Laura Neumann, Ariana Ocampo and Jordyn Voegele.
The Yellow Brick Road cast included Brooke Chaney, Jessica Hale, Jobeth Jackson, Sherelle Moise, Ashley Petit, Cesiley Sullivan, Samantha Walker and Courtney Gorman.
Cast members appearing as The Winkies included Anthony Micco, Katie Brooks, Jerry Gorman, Tori Houston, Hayden Balgavy, Taylor Brown, Megan Clark, Brooke Davenport, Jesse Davis, Courtney Fairchild, Lindsey Frizzell, Lauren Fuller, Jennifer Gray, Lauren Green.
Also Marley Huckabee, Christina Huynh, Erin Laren, Jessica Lindsey, Amy Love, Jordan Meyer, Kayla Miller, Laura Neumann, Ariana Ocampo, Sammy Petit, Chris Pounders, Aly Roberts, Faith Terry and Jordan Voegle.
The Emerald City Citizens cast included Sam Walker, Sarah Ransom, Samantha Young, Brittany Beach, Daniel Carron, Brooke Chaney, Courtney Gorman, Jerry Gorman, Michelle Gorton, Jessica Hale, Carley Hays, Tori Houston, Leeann Hutson, Sarah Hylano, Jobeth Jackson, Bethany Kemper, Ashley Meleney, Anthony Micco, Sherelle Moise, Hayden Balgavy, Sammy Petit, Rebecca Roy, Cesiley Sullivan, Britanny Sumler, Faith Terry and Samantha Walker.
The Mice Squad included Caleb Barnhart, Adam Flemming, Joey Joslin and Reece Owens and the The Crows included Adam Flemming, Taylor Brown, Josh Lee, Corey Spangler and Chris Pounders.
No musical is complete without live music. The all student orchestra was conducted by Chuck Massey.
Performers include Tony Hall, Katie Estes, Daniel Gates, Kevin Jeriggan, Zac Taylor and Neil Spurlin on trumpet, Tiffany Abbott and Haty Bittle on clarinet,Veronica Harrell on violin, Janet Lee on cello, Shelli Mann, Johnathan Hill and Elton Tevebaugh on saxophone, Christi Sturdy on baritone, Tyler Troutman and Hayden Scott on percussion, Cory Nelson, Justin Gray, Joel Head and Aaron Willis on trombone, Erin Patterson and Amy Baldwin on horn and Michelle Mantione on flute and piccolo, Kevin Lenners and Dylan Huchel on guitar,Cory Nelson on bass and faculty member Laura Vaughn on piano.
Brandon Boykin was assistant to the conductor.
Gwen Brooks was the technical director, choregrapher and assistant director was Ashley McMahan, costume designer was Debra Catton.
“It’s just great to see teamwork like this with such a large production,” Balgavy said.
In April the students will perform a touring production of “School House Rock” based on the catchy Saturday morning public service announcements.
The students will also host the “Pirates and Princesses” theater shop for elementary students interested in theater.
SPORTS>> Lady Devils run-rule Sylvan Hills in shutout
IN SHORT: Jacksonville stays perfect with win over Lady Bears
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
They’re two games into the season, but they still don’t know how good their defense is going to be, the Jacksonville Lady Red Devils that is. Only two members of the team have fielded a ball in play so far this season, due to the dominant pitching of sophomore hurler Jessica Bock.
Bock followed her seven-inning perfect game against Searcy in the season opener, with a six-inning perfect game in a 10-0 win over Sylvan Hills last Friday to improve to 2-0 overall and in conference play.
Bock faced 18 batters and struck out 16 of them while the Red Devil offense made better use of their base hits in game two of the season.
The Jacksonville ladies picked up 14 hits in both of their wins so far this season, but brought six more runs across the plate against the Lady Bears than they did against Searcy.
“We got more timely hitting this time,” Jacksonville coach Phil Bradley said. “We got a lot of hits in the first one, we just left a ton of runners stranded. We didn’t do that this time, which was good to see.”
The Lady Devils scored three runs in the top of the first inning to take the lead for good.
Five consecutive base hits did the damage for Jacksonville. Bock led off with a triple to left field. Freshman Taylor Norsworthy brought her in with a single. Whitney Belew then singled and catcher Whitney Conrade brought in a run with a fourth base rap.
Somer Grimes made it five hits in a row to drive in the third and final run of the inning.
The top five in the Lady Red Devil lineup accounted for 11 of the team’s 14 base hits.
“That’s where we did the damage,” Bradley said.
“We’re struggling to find our spots in the bottom half of the lineup, but we are making contact, so there are some signs that we could be pretty tough from top to bottom.”
Jacksonville added two runs in the second, one in the third and fourth, two in the fifth and invoked the run rule with a single tally in the sixth inning.
Bock hit another triple in the fifth inning to drive in two runs and finish 2 for 5 on the day.
Norsworthy led Jacksonville with three hits in four at bats. Belew, Conrade and Grimes each went 2 for 4 in the victory.
Both teams had games scheduled for Monday and Tuesday of this week, but those games were rained out.
Sylvan Hills is scheduled to travel to Forrest City on Thursday while Jacksonville will host archrival Cabot Thursday at Dupree Park, if the weather permits.
“There’s already standing water in the outfield,” Bradley said Tuesday.
“If it rains anymore it’ll soon be Dupree Lake instead of Dupree Park.”
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
They’re two games into the season, but they still don’t know how good their defense is going to be, the Jacksonville Lady Red Devils that is. Only two members of the team have fielded a ball in play so far this season, due to the dominant pitching of sophomore hurler Jessica Bock.
Bock followed her seven-inning perfect game against Searcy in the season opener, with a six-inning perfect game in a 10-0 win over Sylvan Hills last Friday to improve to 2-0 overall and in conference play.
Bock faced 18 batters and struck out 16 of them while the Red Devil offense made better use of their base hits in game two of the season.
The Jacksonville ladies picked up 14 hits in both of their wins so far this season, but brought six more runs across the plate against the Lady Bears than they did against Searcy.
“We got more timely hitting this time,” Jacksonville coach Phil Bradley said. “We got a lot of hits in the first one, we just left a ton of runners stranded. We didn’t do that this time, which was good to see.”
The Lady Devils scored three runs in the top of the first inning to take the lead for good.
Five consecutive base hits did the damage for Jacksonville. Bock led off with a triple to left field. Freshman Taylor Norsworthy brought her in with a single. Whitney Belew then singled and catcher Whitney Conrade brought in a run with a fourth base rap.
Somer Grimes made it five hits in a row to drive in the third and final run of the inning.
The top five in the Lady Red Devil lineup accounted for 11 of the team’s 14 base hits.
“That’s where we did the damage,” Bradley said.
“We’re struggling to find our spots in the bottom half of the lineup, but we are making contact, so there are some signs that we could be pretty tough from top to bottom.”
Jacksonville added two runs in the second, one in the third and fourth, two in the fifth and invoked the run rule with a single tally in the sixth inning.
Bock hit another triple in the fifth inning to drive in two runs and finish 2 for 5 on the day.
Norsworthy led Jacksonville with three hits in four at bats. Belew, Conrade and Grimes each went 2 for 4 in the victory.
Both teams had games scheduled for Monday and Tuesday of this week, but those games were rained out.
Sylvan Hills is scheduled to travel to Forrest City on Thursday while Jacksonville will host archrival Cabot Thursday at Dupree Park, if the weather permits.
“There’s already standing water in the outfield,” Bradley said Tuesday.
“If it rains anymore it’ll soon be Dupree Lake instead of Dupree Park.”
SPORTS>> Red Devils sweep up Falcons
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Red Devils pulled off a doubleheader sweep of crosstown rival North Pulaski on the soccer pitch Monday night in a non-conference matchup. The games were played through a driving rainstorm which eventually turned into a thunderstorm in the second half of the boys game, causing an early stoppage to the contest with the Red Devils leading 5-0.
The two Jacksonville victories completed a four-game season sweep against North Pulaski, avenging the Falcon sweep of Jacksonville last season.
The Lady Red Devils got four goals from senior Jessica Beaver to down the Lady Falcons 4-0 in the first game of the night.
“Jessica played a great game,” Jacksonville boys and girls coach Bill Vasquez said. “We played pretty well. The conditions were difficult for both teams but we came through with a few plays and got the win.”
The Lady Red Devils scored twice in the first half on corner kicks. In the second half, one direct kick early in the second half made it 3-0. The final goal came from a nice series of passes down the field that culminated in Beaver scoring from just outside the box to set the final margin.
The Jacksonville boys spread the wealth around a bit more than the girls. Four Red Devils teamed up to score the fifth goal, with only Alex Krick getting multiple goals in the game. Manuel Alvadrez scored in his first game back after missing the previous match against Cabot. Brandon Klar and Lamar Perry also scored one goal apiece to pace the Red Devils.
“The guys did a real good job too,” Vazquez said. “The teamwork was nice, they played together well.”
The win gives the Jacksonville boys a 6-3 overall and a 2-1 conference record while the girls improve to 4-5 overall and stand 1-2 in league play.
Jacksonville is off for two weeks until a conference matchup with Cabot on April 4.
The North Pulaski boys fall to 2-9 overall, but are still in the AAAA-Southeast conference race at 2-1. The NP ladies are 5-6 overall and 1-1 in their conference race.
The Falcons and Lady Falcons also take two weeks off before getting back to league play on April 5 on the road at Greene County Tech.
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Red Devils pulled off a doubleheader sweep of crosstown rival North Pulaski on the soccer pitch Monday night in a non-conference matchup. The games were played through a driving rainstorm which eventually turned into a thunderstorm in the second half of the boys game, causing an early stoppage to the contest with the Red Devils leading 5-0.
The two Jacksonville victories completed a four-game season sweep against North Pulaski, avenging the Falcon sweep of Jacksonville last season.
The Lady Red Devils got four goals from senior Jessica Beaver to down the Lady Falcons 4-0 in the first game of the night.
“Jessica played a great game,” Jacksonville boys and girls coach Bill Vasquez said. “We played pretty well. The conditions were difficult for both teams but we came through with a few plays and got the win.”
The Lady Red Devils scored twice in the first half on corner kicks. In the second half, one direct kick early in the second half made it 3-0. The final goal came from a nice series of passes down the field that culminated in Beaver scoring from just outside the box to set the final margin.
The Jacksonville boys spread the wealth around a bit more than the girls. Four Red Devils teamed up to score the fifth goal, with only Alex Krick getting multiple goals in the game. Manuel Alvadrez scored in his first game back after missing the previous match against Cabot. Brandon Klar and Lamar Perry also scored one goal apiece to pace the Red Devils.
“The guys did a real good job too,” Vazquez said. “The teamwork was nice, they played together well.”
The win gives the Jacksonville boys a 6-3 overall and a 2-1 conference record while the girls improve to 4-5 overall and stand 1-2 in league play.
Jacksonville is off for two weeks until a conference matchup with Cabot on April 4.
The North Pulaski boys fall to 2-9 overall, but are still in the AAAA-Southeast conference race at 2-1. The NP ladies are 5-6 overall and 1-1 in their conference race.
The Falcons and Lady Falcons also take two weeks off before getting back to league play on April 5 on the road at Greene County Tech.
EDITORIAL>> Deltic flexes it muscle
Today we may get a verdict on whether the economic muscle of one big corporation can trump the vital interests of 360,000 people. All the evidence so far suggests it can in the Arkansas legislature in 2005.
The City, County and Local Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, chaired by Rep. Will Bond, D-Jacksonville, finally will hold a hearing this morning on a bill that will curtail the power of the Central Arkansas Water utility to protect the region’s water supply by condemning land on the slopes above its shores.
Deltic Timber Corp., which wants to build a luxury subdivision overlooking Lake Maumelle, got the bill through the Senate in near record time before House Speaker Bill Stovall thwarted its pell-mell passage through the House. Word early this week is that the company’s phalanx of lobbyists has lined up votes to pass the bill if it reaches the House floor but is a vote or two shy of getting it out of the committee.
If you take the state daily paper, you’ve seen the full-page advertisements explaining how safe and pure the water will be when Deltic finishes the sprawling development called The Ridges at Nowlin Creek. Modern technology and strict rules will prevent builders and homeowners from polluting the lake, the ads say.
The company will have as many hired authorities as it needs today to persuade people that the water that will be sucked into the intake valve down the slopes from the subdivision will be absolutely pristine.
Experts from the state Health Department and from a Massachusetts consulting firm say it’s not so, that the stormwater containment planned by Deltic is not suitable for the rocky slopes.
The water company — that is all of us, the water users — will have to build expensive plants to cleanse Maumelle water, now some of the purest in the United States.
Let’s assume that Deltic is right and that it can control forever the runoff from the 220 homes and other structures on the ridges by regulating the fertilizer and other chemical applications. It would take a sizable police force to enforce it, but maybe Deltic could somehow extend its control once the land is in the possession of private homeowners. What about the next developer across the valley, and the next and the next? The water company could not exercise eminent domain to stop anyone else.
Central Arkansas taxpayers spent a fortune building this pristine lake in the wilderness above the metropolitan area so that they could be assured of pure water for a century. Now one corporation wants to exploit, for its own profit, the gorgeous scenery created by the public’s investment.
There is nothing close about this issue.
All the money spent to influence government policy is on one side, all the virtue on the other. Keep this roll call for future use.
The City, County and Local Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, chaired by Rep. Will Bond, D-Jacksonville, finally will hold a hearing this morning on a bill that will curtail the power of the Central Arkansas Water utility to protect the region’s water supply by condemning land on the slopes above its shores.
Deltic Timber Corp., which wants to build a luxury subdivision overlooking Lake Maumelle, got the bill through the Senate in near record time before House Speaker Bill Stovall thwarted its pell-mell passage through the House. Word early this week is that the company’s phalanx of lobbyists has lined up votes to pass the bill if it reaches the House floor but is a vote or two shy of getting it out of the committee.
If you take the state daily paper, you’ve seen the full-page advertisements explaining how safe and pure the water will be when Deltic finishes the sprawling development called The Ridges at Nowlin Creek. Modern technology and strict rules will prevent builders and homeowners from polluting the lake, the ads say.
The company will have as many hired authorities as it needs today to persuade people that the water that will be sucked into the intake valve down the slopes from the subdivision will be absolutely pristine.
Experts from the state Health Department and from a Massachusetts consulting firm say it’s not so, that the stormwater containment planned by Deltic is not suitable for the rocky slopes.
The water company — that is all of us, the water users — will have to build expensive plants to cleanse Maumelle water, now some of the purest in the United States.
Let’s assume that Deltic is right and that it can control forever the runoff from the 220 homes and other structures on the ridges by regulating the fertilizer and other chemical applications. It would take a sizable police force to enforce it, but maybe Deltic could somehow extend its control once the land is in the possession of private homeowners. What about the next developer across the valley, and the next and the next? The water company could not exercise eminent domain to stop anyone else.
Central Arkansas taxpayers spent a fortune building this pristine lake in the wilderness above the metropolitan area so that they could be assured of pure water for a century. Now one corporation wants to exploit, for its own profit, the gorgeous scenery created by the public’s investment.
There is nothing close about this issue.
All the money spent to influence government policy is on one side, all the virtue on the other. Keep this roll call for future use.
FROM THE PUBLISHER>> Committee must not let Deltic dirty our water
BY GARRICK FELDMAN
Publisher
Rep. Will Bond, the Jacksonville Democrat who is chairman of the House Committee on City, County and Local Affairs, opens hearings today on a brazen attempt by developers to muddy our drinking water while they would build $1 million mansions in the Lake Maumelle watershed.
The lake is the main water source for central Arkansas, but developers like Deltic Timber would pollute the water with rows of McMansions and great lakeview vistas, leaving the rest of us with ever diminishing options for clean water.
Bond, who has been one of the few bright lights during this grim legislative session, will give the developers a fair hearing, but there’s no reason to roll out the red carpet for Deltic and their ilk, whose corporate irresponsibility shows contempt for the people of Arkansas.
Central Arkansas Water, the umbrella group charged with meeting the long-term water needs of the area, has tangled with Deltic for months over who should control the area near the lake.
Deltic has taken full-page advertisements in the state daily, but those ads will fool only the most gullible. Deltic claims it believes in clean water and could control pollution, but the company is just muddying the waters with its expensive public relations campaign and reliance on junk science.
A national consultant group, which has studied the issue with the help of scientists and engineers, has backed Central Arkansas Water, which has unanimously opposed Deltic’s power grab.
Deltic has seduced the state Senate into taking away CAW’s right to control development in the watershed.
Deltic wants the House to do the same, but central Arkansas legislators are almost unanimous in their opposition to development because of the pollution it would cause.
The House must hold the line against development in the watershed for the greater good of central Arkansas.
The fear is that Deltic has bought off legislators from outside central Arkansas, which is seldom popular with rural legislators, especially since many of them lost their school districts in consolidation, thanks in no small part to lawmakers from around here.
Deltic is hoping to win over the House sooner or later. But even if it achieves victory during this session or two years from now, Deltic faces a monumental court fight as it seeks to pollute Lake Maumelle.
If the Legislature fails us, surely the courts will restore common sense on this issue and tell Deltic to go build homes somewhere else. We’d offer a toast to that with a tall glass of delicious Arkansas water.
Publisher
Rep. Will Bond, the Jacksonville Democrat who is chairman of the House Committee on City, County and Local Affairs, opens hearings today on a brazen attempt by developers to muddy our drinking water while they would build $1 million mansions in the Lake Maumelle watershed.
The lake is the main water source for central Arkansas, but developers like Deltic Timber would pollute the water with rows of McMansions and great lakeview vistas, leaving the rest of us with ever diminishing options for clean water.
Bond, who has been one of the few bright lights during this grim legislative session, will give the developers a fair hearing, but there’s no reason to roll out the red carpet for Deltic and their ilk, whose corporate irresponsibility shows contempt for the people of Arkansas.
Central Arkansas Water, the umbrella group charged with meeting the long-term water needs of the area, has tangled with Deltic for months over who should control the area near the lake.
Deltic has taken full-page advertisements in the state daily, but those ads will fool only the most gullible. Deltic claims it believes in clean water and could control pollution, but the company is just muddying the waters with its expensive public relations campaign and reliance on junk science.
A national consultant group, which has studied the issue with the help of scientists and engineers, has backed Central Arkansas Water, which has unanimously opposed Deltic’s power grab.
Deltic has seduced the state Senate into taking away CAW’s right to control development in the watershed.
Deltic wants the House to do the same, but central Arkansas legislators are almost unanimous in their opposition to development because of the pollution it would cause.
The House must hold the line against development in the watershed for the greater good of central Arkansas.
The fear is that Deltic has bought off legislators from outside central Arkansas, which is seldom popular with rural legislators, especially since many of them lost their school districts in consolidation, thanks in no small part to lawmakers from around here.
Deltic is hoping to win over the House sooner or later. But even if it achieves victory during this session or two years from now, Deltic faces a monumental court fight as it seeks to pollute Lake Maumelle.
If the Legislature fails us, surely the courts will restore common sense on this issue and tell Deltic to go build homes somewhere else. We’d offer a toast to that with a tall glass of delicious Arkansas water.
TOP STORY>> PCSSD could spend $25M on improvements
IN SHORT: The distressed school district is seeking federal and state aid to build a new structure on the middle school campus and fund several academic programs.
By GARRICK FELDMAN
Leader editor
The Pulaski County Special School District, which has been struggling financially and losing students for years, is seeking $25 million in state and federal grants for innovative programming and an ambitious construction program, including a new building for the middle school campus that will be segregated by sexes for the core curriculum.
Marvin V. Jeter III, assistant superintendent for learning services, told a general membership luncheon of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday that the district is submitting several innovative ideas to both the U.S. and state education departments, which he hopes will result in up to $25 million in funding not only for the middle school but also for academies at the two high schools and for other programs.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if next year we’ll be seeking funds for the high school,” Jeter said. “There are a lot of funding sources available for innovative education.
“If we continue to do things the same way, we’re not going to get better,” Jeter told the chamber.
The district is applying for as many as 27 grants to help pay for new school buildings and programs, he said.
Many of the buildings in the district are aging and in disrepair and few improvements have been made in the Jacksonville area, which were among the reasons area residents had tried to form their own school district until a federal judge shot down that idea.
Jeter said the district wants to build a $5 million media center and cafeteria between the two gymnasiums on the middle school campus, which includes both the old junior high and middle schools. If the grant application is approved, the funds would come from the U.S. Department of Education’s discretionary building fund.
There’s a $5 million cap for the proposed new building, but Jeter said an architectural firm has done a drawing of the building at no charge and could build the structure for under $5 million. The building would also include classrooms and drama and choral performance spaces.
Students in grades 6-8 will attend the middle school campus, which includes the current middle school, where girls will be going, and the old junior high, which becomes the middle school for boys. Ninth graders will go to one of the high schools.
The in-school detention would be moved from its current location at the old Siam restaurant to a wing of the junior high school.
The school district also qualifies for a $200,000 annual grant for three years to help pay for new academies at Jacksonville and North Pulaski High schools.
The district has proposed establishing an aviation and aeronautics academy at JHS in conjunction with Henderson State University and Central Flying Service. Pulaski Tech and UALR are also interested in the program. Graduates would get their exams for a commercial pilot license at the age of 18, Jeter said.
North Pulaski High School would not only have an ROTC academy in association with the air base but also promote a food and hospitality program through its award-winning Simply Delicious restaurant and the Arkansas Hospitality Association.
In addition, NPHS has a strong arts program, which could evolve into an entertainment academy.
Forty percent of high school students are pursuing their specialties, and the new academies would encourage the other 60 percent to specialize. “Next year, you’ll be seeing some exciting things happen,” Jeter told the chamber.
“Help us get the message out.”
Separating boys and girls in the middle school wouldn’t have been possible just a few years ago, he said, because courts have opposed the idea, but courts have recognized that there are advantages for separate schools during the middle school years.
The district must make changes because of a rising dropout rate between middle school and high school, as well as because of disciplinary problems and falling achievement scores.
“We must have an educated citizenry to preserve democracy,” Jeter said. “It’s very important that we keep expectations high,” he added. “There is no reason to expect less from our students.”
In an after-lunch meeting with the chamber board of directors, Jeter apparently eased concerns of those who wanted to make sure the new plans would continue with the announced retirement of School Supt. Donald Henderson.
The district has started a search to replace Henderson, the third superintendent in five years.
Jeter told the chamber board there would be only one assistant principal at each school, but that central office personnel would be available as needed.
“He solidified a lot of things,” said Bishop James Bolden III, Jacksonville’s representative on the school board, after the meeting.
He said some chamber members volunteered to help if they could.
Leader reporter John Hofheimer contributed to this report.
By GARRICK FELDMAN
Leader editor
The Pulaski County Special School District, which has been struggling financially and losing students for years, is seeking $25 million in state and federal grants for innovative programming and an ambitious construction program, including a new building for the middle school campus that will be segregated by sexes for the core curriculum.
Marvin V. Jeter III, assistant superintendent for learning services, told a general membership luncheon of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday that the district is submitting several innovative ideas to both the U.S. and state education departments, which he hopes will result in up to $25 million in funding not only for the middle school but also for academies at the two high schools and for other programs.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if next year we’ll be seeking funds for the high school,” Jeter said. “There are a lot of funding sources available for innovative education.
“If we continue to do things the same way, we’re not going to get better,” Jeter told the chamber.
The district is applying for as many as 27 grants to help pay for new school buildings and programs, he said.
Many of the buildings in the district are aging and in disrepair and few improvements have been made in the Jacksonville area, which were among the reasons area residents had tried to form their own school district until a federal judge shot down that idea.
Jeter said the district wants to build a $5 million media center and cafeteria between the two gymnasiums on the middle school campus, which includes both the old junior high and middle schools. If the grant application is approved, the funds would come from the U.S. Department of Education’s discretionary building fund.
There’s a $5 million cap for the proposed new building, but Jeter said an architectural firm has done a drawing of the building at no charge and could build the structure for under $5 million. The building would also include classrooms and drama and choral performance spaces.
Students in grades 6-8 will attend the middle school campus, which includes the current middle school, where girls will be going, and the old junior high, which becomes the middle school for boys. Ninth graders will go to one of the high schools.
The in-school detention would be moved from its current location at the old Siam restaurant to a wing of the junior high school.
The school district also qualifies for a $200,000 annual grant for three years to help pay for new academies at Jacksonville and North Pulaski High schools.
The district has proposed establishing an aviation and aeronautics academy at JHS in conjunction with Henderson State University and Central Flying Service. Pulaski Tech and UALR are also interested in the program. Graduates would get their exams for a commercial pilot license at the age of 18, Jeter said.
North Pulaski High School would not only have an ROTC academy in association with the air base but also promote a food and hospitality program through its award-winning Simply Delicious restaurant and the Arkansas Hospitality Association.
In addition, NPHS has a strong arts program, which could evolve into an entertainment academy.
Forty percent of high school students are pursuing their specialties, and the new academies would encourage the other 60 percent to specialize. “Next year, you’ll be seeing some exciting things happen,” Jeter told the chamber.
“Help us get the message out.”
Separating boys and girls in the middle school wouldn’t have been possible just a few years ago, he said, because courts have opposed the idea, but courts have recognized that there are advantages for separate schools during the middle school years.
The district must make changes because of a rising dropout rate between middle school and high school, as well as because of disciplinary problems and falling achievement scores.
“We must have an educated citizenry to preserve democracy,” Jeter said. “It’s very important that we keep expectations high,” he added. “There is no reason to expect less from our students.”
In an after-lunch meeting with the chamber board of directors, Jeter apparently eased concerns of those who wanted to make sure the new plans would continue with the announced retirement of School Supt. Donald Henderson.
The district has started a search to replace Henderson, the third superintendent in five years.
Jeter told the chamber board there would be only one assistant principal at each school, but that central office personnel would be available as needed.
“He solidified a lot of things,” said Bishop James Bolden III, Jacksonville’s representative on the school board, after the meeting.
He said some chamber members volunteered to help if they could.
Leader reporter John Hofheimer contributed to this report.
TOP STORY>> Military looks to close bases bases
LRAFB in good shape as another BRAC review gets underway
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Little Rock Air Force Base is well positioned to survive the next wave of base closings, officials say, but still…
The economic impact of Little Rock Air Force Base at Jacksonville upon central Arkansas in 2004 was over half a billion dollars, according to information released earlier this month, and the thought of losing the base could drive leaders into a cold sweat.
By May 16, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld should have submitted his list of recommended closings to the Base Realignment and Closure (Brac) commission, with the commission’s final list due by Sept. 8.
The president and Congress then have until Nov. 7 to accept or reject the list, and communities across the country are waiting to see who’s on that list.
“I believe that Little Rock Air Force Base is in great shape as we head into this new round of base closings,” Cong. Vic Snyder said Tuesday.
“The dedication of the new fire station on Monday is another example of the tremendous investment that has been made in the last few years. There is great community support for this base of which the Air Force is very much aware.
“I am also very pleased that former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi has been named head of the (Brac) commission. He is a Vietnam veteran and a fine man, a real straight-shooter known for his sense of fair-play,” Snyder said.
“Everybody says Little Rock Air Force Base is safe,” said Sen. Mark Pryor on the 50th anniversary of the base.
Cautioning against too much optimism, Pryor said, “That scares me. We’ll redouble our efforts to promote the base. People at the Air Force and Pentagon say the base is in good shape. It has a proven track record. But I’ll continue to push behind the scenes.”
“I don’t want to seem over confident, but we can compete with any base in the world,” said Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim Monday at the dedication of the base’s new fire station. He’s serving his second term as head of the base Community Council. “We’ll score high.”
Swaim said a number of states, including Florida, California and Mississippi, had hired lobbyists, including former military and former congressmen. To help keep its bases, Mississippi has spent $900,000, the mayor said.
While others had hired expensive lobbyists, Swaim said he and three or four others had traveled a lot of miles the last couple of years promoting the base.
“We have good contacts. We felt that because we know officials, we know how to sell the base. Others active in pressing the base’s case include Larry Wilson, Paul Latture and Carmie Henry, Swaim said.
The base’s unique role as trainer of all U.S. military C-130 pilots, crews and ground-crews would seem to ensure its continued existence, they say.
In recent years, the Air Force has spent millions of dollars preparing the base to also train crews for the new C-130J. In fact, the C-130J training center alone cost about $50 million.
Although the government may not buy any more of the new aircraft, people still have to fly and maintain those already purchased.
Over four previous rounds of closings, dating back to 1988, 97 bases have been closed, along with hundreds of smaller facilities, yielding savings of nearly $30 billion through 2003, according to a report in the New York Times.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Little Rock Air Force Base is well positioned to survive the next wave of base closings, officials say, but still…
The economic impact of Little Rock Air Force Base at Jacksonville upon central Arkansas in 2004 was over half a billion dollars, according to information released earlier this month, and the thought of losing the base could drive leaders into a cold sweat.
By May 16, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld should have submitted his list of recommended closings to the Base Realignment and Closure (Brac) commission, with the commission’s final list due by Sept. 8.
The president and Congress then have until Nov. 7 to accept or reject the list, and communities across the country are waiting to see who’s on that list.
“I believe that Little Rock Air Force Base is in great shape as we head into this new round of base closings,” Cong. Vic Snyder said Tuesday.
“The dedication of the new fire station on Monday is another example of the tremendous investment that has been made in the last few years. There is great community support for this base of which the Air Force is very much aware.
“I am also very pleased that former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi has been named head of the (Brac) commission. He is a Vietnam veteran and a fine man, a real straight-shooter known for his sense of fair-play,” Snyder said.
“Everybody says Little Rock Air Force Base is safe,” said Sen. Mark Pryor on the 50th anniversary of the base.
Cautioning against too much optimism, Pryor said, “That scares me. We’ll redouble our efforts to promote the base. People at the Air Force and Pentagon say the base is in good shape. It has a proven track record. But I’ll continue to push behind the scenes.”
“I don’t want to seem over confident, but we can compete with any base in the world,” said Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim Monday at the dedication of the base’s new fire station. He’s serving his second term as head of the base Community Council. “We’ll score high.”
Swaim said a number of states, including Florida, California and Mississippi, had hired lobbyists, including former military and former congressmen. To help keep its bases, Mississippi has spent $900,000, the mayor said.
While others had hired expensive lobbyists, Swaim said he and three or four others had traveled a lot of miles the last couple of years promoting the base.
“We have good contacts. We felt that because we know officials, we know how to sell the base. Others active in pressing the base’s case include Larry Wilson, Paul Latture and Carmie Henry, Swaim said.
The base’s unique role as trainer of all U.S. military C-130 pilots, crews and ground-crews would seem to ensure its continued existence, they say.
In recent years, the Air Force has spent millions of dollars preparing the base to also train crews for the new C-130J. In fact, the C-130J training center alone cost about $50 million.
Although the government may not buy any more of the new aircraft, people still have to fly and maintain those already purchased.
Over four previous rounds of closings, dating back to 1988, 97 bases have been closed, along with hundreds of smaller facilities, yielding savings of nearly $30 billion through 2003, according to a report in the New York Times.
TOP STORY>> Gas prices continue to climb above $2
IN SHORT>> The record is shattered as managers here predict the cost per gallon could reach $2.50.
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Looking for cheap gasoline?
It won’t be found anywhere between Sherwood and Beebe, as all stations surveyed were over the $2 mark.
Overall, Beebe had the most inexpensive gas in the area, ranging from $2.029 to $2.049, with an average of $2.034.
The Citgo station in Beebe, as of Tuesday, would actually sell its unleaded gasoline for $1.999, if the customer used the Citgo cash card.
One gas station manager in Jackson-ville said Tuesday, “Yesterday we were at $1.99, now we are at $2.09. I’m hardly making a penny a gallon. It’s scary,” she said. Said another Jacksonville convenience store manager, whose store is selling gas at $2.099, “Rumor has it that gas could hit $2.50 by July.”
A manager of a convenience store in Cabot said their price was $2.029 “but that could change at any minute.”
As of Tuesday, the state’s average, according to the American Automobile Association, was a record $2.013 for a gallon of unleaded gasoline, almost six cents lower than the new national record average of $2.072.
Locally, Beebe is averaging $2.034, while Cabot averaged three cents higher at $2.064. Jacksonville’s average for a gallon of unleaded gasoline was $2.081, while Sherwood was at $2.096.
In the state, two metropolitan areas are still slightly under the two-dollar mark, according to the AAA. Fort Smith is at $1.977 for a gallon of unleaded gasoline, while Pine Bluff is averaging $1.993. The Little Rock-North Little Rock area is at $2.012, Texarkana is at $2.018 and Fayetteville is averaging $2.042.
As gas prices go above the $2 mark, police say they have not seen any increase in drive-offs.
Even the Lonoke and Beebe police departments, each of which have been reporting one or two each week for several months, say there have been no increases in gas drive-offs as prices rise.
“By and large you may have a few spur-of-the-moment people, but I don’t think rising gas prices are going to make it go up all of a sudden,” said Capt. Charles Jenkins of the Jacksonville Police Department, referring to gas drive-offs. “I think your law-abiding citizen will always pay for gasoline no matter what the price is.”
Jenkins said the departments would probably maintain the same levels of patrols until a gas shortage arises and long lines begin to form. Even then, he said monitoring gas drive-offs would fall secondary to ensuring crowd safety, as people become agitated from waiting in the lines.
He and Sgt. Dwayne Roper, of the Cabot Police Department, noted the gas stations use many crime prevention techniques and deterrents that help keep drive-off numbers down. The gas stations use options like prepaying inside, using credit and debit cards at the pumps, posting notifications that surveillance cameras are in use, and posting notifications of the consequences of driving away without paying for gas.
“What people have to understand is, it is a crime,” Jenkins said.
As of Tuesday, only seven states were averaging below the $2 mark. They were Georgia ($1.987), Louisiana ($1.997), New Jersey ($1.904), Oklahoma ($1.997), South Carolina ($1.955), Texas ($1.978) and Virginia ($1.992).
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Looking for cheap gasoline?
It won’t be found anywhere between Sherwood and Beebe, as all stations surveyed were over the $2 mark.
Overall, Beebe had the most inexpensive gas in the area, ranging from $2.029 to $2.049, with an average of $2.034.
The Citgo station in Beebe, as of Tuesday, would actually sell its unleaded gasoline for $1.999, if the customer used the Citgo cash card.
One gas station manager in Jackson-ville said Tuesday, “Yesterday we were at $1.99, now we are at $2.09. I’m hardly making a penny a gallon. It’s scary,” she said. Said another Jacksonville convenience store manager, whose store is selling gas at $2.099, “Rumor has it that gas could hit $2.50 by July.”
A manager of a convenience store in Cabot said their price was $2.029 “but that could change at any minute.”
As of Tuesday, the state’s average, according to the American Automobile Association, was a record $2.013 for a gallon of unleaded gasoline, almost six cents lower than the new national record average of $2.072.
Locally, Beebe is averaging $2.034, while Cabot averaged three cents higher at $2.064. Jacksonville’s average for a gallon of unleaded gasoline was $2.081, while Sherwood was at $2.096.
In the state, two metropolitan areas are still slightly under the two-dollar mark, according to the AAA. Fort Smith is at $1.977 for a gallon of unleaded gasoline, while Pine Bluff is averaging $1.993. The Little Rock-North Little Rock area is at $2.012, Texarkana is at $2.018 and Fayetteville is averaging $2.042.
As gas prices go above the $2 mark, police say they have not seen any increase in drive-offs.
Even the Lonoke and Beebe police departments, each of which have been reporting one or two each week for several months, say there have been no increases in gas drive-offs as prices rise.
“By and large you may have a few spur-of-the-moment people, but I don’t think rising gas prices are going to make it go up all of a sudden,” said Capt. Charles Jenkins of the Jacksonville Police Department, referring to gas drive-offs. “I think your law-abiding citizen will always pay for gasoline no matter what the price is.”
Jenkins said the departments would probably maintain the same levels of patrols until a gas shortage arises and long lines begin to form. Even then, he said monitoring gas drive-offs would fall secondary to ensuring crowd safety, as people become agitated from waiting in the lines.
He and Sgt. Dwayne Roper, of the Cabot Police Department, noted the gas stations use many crime prevention techniques and deterrents that help keep drive-off numbers down. The gas stations use options like prepaying inside, using credit and debit cards at the pumps, posting notifications that surveillance cameras are in use, and posting notifications of the consequences of driving away without paying for gas.
“What people have to understand is, it is a crime,” Jenkins said.
As of Tuesday, only seven states were averaging below the $2 mark. They were Georgia ($1.987), Louisiana ($1.997), New Jersey ($1.904), Oklahoma ($1.997), South Carolina ($1.955), Texas ($1.978) and Virginia ($1.992).
TOP STORY>> Committee hearing on water rights
IN SHORT>> Despite an intensive lobbying effort and full-page ads in the statewide daily, Deltic Timber’s effort to win legislation enabling it to build 170 pricey homes uphill from the Lake Maumelle reservoir could die in a Wednesday morning meeting.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Deltic Timber already faces “an uphill battle” to get its Senate Bill 230 out of the House City, County and Local Affairs Committee on Wednesday morning, according to the committee chairman, Rep. Will Bond, D-Jacksonville.
About 200 people gathered Tuesday on the state Capitol steps in a lunchtime rally against the bill.
Now, in a review released Monday, consulting engineers have concluded that the Lake Maumelle land Deltic wants to develop is too steep and the soils too erosive and too impermeable to adequately protect that important drinking water reservoir from erosion, silt and chemical runoff.
And a state Health Department review finds the Deltic proposal deeply flawed.
Central Arkansas Water provides drinking water to Sherwood, Jacksonville, Gravel Ridge and Cabot, as well as Little Rock and North Little Rock.
Deltic wants to build about 170 lake-view homes—The Ridges at Nowlin Creek—uphill from the lake, near the intake structures for the water treatment plant.
Central Arkansas Water (CAW) retained Geo-Syntec Consultants to assess the proposed development.
In a proposed “stewardship agreement,” Deltic plans to use low-impact development (LID) storm-water management to keep polluting runoff out of the lake, but GeoSyntec says it probably won’t work.
“There are no known LID residential developments in the U.S. designed to protect water quality,” wrote Steven P. Roy, author of the report. “Such a development in this setting with steep slopes and erosive soils will very likely result in sediment and nutrient impacts in the lake.”
Because CAW opposes the plan, Deltic slipped through the Senate a bill that would strip CAW—alone among all water districts—of its authority to regulate the land, including the authority to condemn land by right of eminent domain and buy it.
But public opinion, public officials throughout the area, environmentalists and others have spoken out against the bill and the development in a number of public settings, most recently at the Tuesday rally.
The Deltic bill would transfer regulatory authority from CAW, substituting a stewardship agreement between Deltic and the Arkansas Soil and Water Commission.
The state Health Department finds the plan “fundamentally flawed,” according to a report made available by Harold Seifort, director of the department’s engineering division.
Neither the commission nor the developer has legal responsibility for or experience with complying with federal drinking water regulations, according to the state Health Department. The stewardship agreement wouldn’t even require input from CAW or the Health Department.
“This entire approach does not take into account the cumulative impact of even minimal changes in runoff water quality,” the report said.
Deltic’s consultant, Dr. Mun-sell McPhillips, “could not identify a similar development, in existence for a sufficient period of time (10-15 years), where such a stewardship plan overseen by a developer/property owner’s association and a state agency was shown to be effective in preventing water quality degradation of a public water source,” the health department report said.
The Health Department report concludes that E. coli, total organic carbon and other potential problems, including pesticides and herbicides, wouldn’t be sufficiently monitored.
Finally, it concludes that CAW’s recourse under the stewardship plan is weak and potentially ineffective—particularly where water quality degradation results in major capital expenses for water treatment.
Similarly, GeoSyntec finds Deltic’s plans vague and unconvincing.
“The Deltic report…is missing detailed plans and specifications against which to evaluate claims and expectations,” according to GeoSyntec.
Deltic’s report lacks detailed plans and specifications, a drainage calculation package, a storm-water pollution prevention plan, or a storm-water discharge permit.
Instead of traditional storm-water control structures, which are expensive and not very suitable for this lake view development, Deltic proposed to use Low Impact Development designs and storm water controls to lessen the development’s impact on the lake, according to Roy, who specializes in water resources management, storm-water management and environmental impacts from land use activities. A 2004 study by the Cadmus Group found the low permeability of the soils and slopes greater than 15 percent to be “significant impediments” to the LID management Deltic proposed.
Roy also found Deltic’s proposal to lack virtually all specifics and data necessary to evaluate the suitability of its LID management.
“The report is conceptual only and does not provide sufficient documentation, engineering design and stormwater calculations to prepare an evaluation on whether the development can mimic pre-development runoff conditions.”
Roy said Deltic provided no details on specific LID controls, their location, the amount of drainage area and the volume of runoff they would receive, the amount of drainage that would bypass LID features, sizing and design criteria, water quality and quantity performance standards and contingencies for operational failure of LID controls.
Roy’s report concludes that Deltic didn’t document the experience of its engineers in LID design and doesn’t support its claim that the project would not present a water quality threat to Lake Maumelle.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Deltic Timber already faces “an uphill battle” to get its Senate Bill 230 out of the House City, County and Local Affairs Committee on Wednesday morning, according to the committee chairman, Rep. Will Bond, D-Jacksonville.
About 200 people gathered Tuesday on the state Capitol steps in a lunchtime rally against the bill.
Now, in a review released Monday, consulting engineers have concluded that the Lake Maumelle land Deltic wants to develop is too steep and the soils too erosive and too impermeable to adequately protect that important drinking water reservoir from erosion, silt and chemical runoff.
And a state Health Department review finds the Deltic proposal deeply flawed.
Central Arkansas Water provides drinking water to Sherwood, Jacksonville, Gravel Ridge and Cabot, as well as Little Rock and North Little Rock.
Deltic wants to build about 170 lake-view homes—The Ridges at Nowlin Creek—uphill from the lake, near the intake structures for the water treatment plant.
Central Arkansas Water (CAW) retained Geo-Syntec Consultants to assess the proposed development.
In a proposed “stewardship agreement,” Deltic plans to use low-impact development (LID) storm-water management to keep polluting runoff out of the lake, but GeoSyntec says it probably won’t work.
“There are no known LID residential developments in the U.S. designed to protect water quality,” wrote Steven P. Roy, author of the report. “Such a development in this setting with steep slopes and erosive soils will very likely result in sediment and nutrient impacts in the lake.”
Because CAW opposes the plan, Deltic slipped through the Senate a bill that would strip CAW—alone among all water districts—of its authority to regulate the land, including the authority to condemn land by right of eminent domain and buy it.
But public opinion, public officials throughout the area, environmentalists and others have spoken out against the bill and the development in a number of public settings, most recently at the Tuesday rally.
The Deltic bill would transfer regulatory authority from CAW, substituting a stewardship agreement between Deltic and the Arkansas Soil and Water Commission.
The state Health Department finds the plan “fundamentally flawed,” according to a report made available by Harold Seifort, director of the department’s engineering division.
Neither the commission nor the developer has legal responsibility for or experience with complying with federal drinking water regulations, according to the state Health Department. The stewardship agreement wouldn’t even require input from CAW or the Health Department.
“This entire approach does not take into account the cumulative impact of even minimal changes in runoff water quality,” the report said.
Deltic’s consultant, Dr. Mun-sell McPhillips, “could not identify a similar development, in existence for a sufficient period of time (10-15 years), where such a stewardship plan overseen by a developer/property owner’s association and a state agency was shown to be effective in preventing water quality degradation of a public water source,” the health department report said.
The Health Department report concludes that E. coli, total organic carbon and other potential problems, including pesticides and herbicides, wouldn’t be sufficiently monitored.
Finally, it concludes that CAW’s recourse under the stewardship plan is weak and potentially ineffective—particularly where water quality degradation results in major capital expenses for water treatment.
Similarly, GeoSyntec finds Deltic’s plans vague and unconvincing.
“The Deltic report…is missing detailed plans and specifications against which to evaluate claims and expectations,” according to GeoSyntec.
Deltic’s report lacks detailed plans and specifications, a drainage calculation package, a storm-water pollution prevention plan, or a storm-water discharge permit.
Instead of traditional storm-water control structures, which are expensive and not very suitable for this lake view development, Deltic proposed to use Low Impact Development designs and storm water controls to lessen the development’s impact on the lake, according to Roy, who specializes in water resources management, storm-water management and environmental impacts from land use activities. A 2004 study by the Cadmus Group found the low permeability of the soils and slopes greater than 15 percent to be “significant impediments” to the LID management Deltic proposed.
Roy also found Deltic’s proposal to lack virtually all specifics and data necessary to evaluate the suitability of its LID management.
“The report is conceptual only and does not provide sufficient documentation, engineering design and stormwater calculations to prepare an evaluation on whether the development can mimic pre-development runoff conditions.”
Roy said Deltic provided no details on specific LID controls, their location, the amount of drainage area and the volume of runoff they would receive, the amount of drainage that would bypass LID features, sizing and design criteria, water quality and quantity performance standards and contingencies for operational failure of LID controls.
Roy’s report concludes that Deltic didn’t document the experience of its engineers in LID design and doesn’t support its claim that the project would not present a water quality threat to Lake Maumelle.
OBITUARIES>> March 23, 2005
AARON ROGERS
Aaron B. “A.B.” Rogers, 87, of Jonesboro, died Sunday morning at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro.
Born in Evening Shade, he lived in Detroit, Mich., for 45 years before moving to Jonesboro in 1986.
He was a retired mail trans-port contractor, transporting the mail between Detroit and Lansing for 29 years.
He was a member of the Valley View Church of Christ, and was an Army veteran of WWII.
Survivors include his wife, Maudie Robertson Rogers; one son Robert Rogers of Cabot; one daughter Barbara Jaress of Jonesboro; one brother O.C. Rogers of Memphis and four grandchildren Debbie Smith of Hobe Sound, Fla.; David Jaress of Monroe, Ga., Todd Rogers of Maumelle and Tami Lewis of Lebanon, Tenn., and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at Emerson Memorial Chapel with Stanley Rogers and David Gibson officiating. Burial will follow in Jonesboro Memorial Park.
Active pallbearers are Cecil Wilkerson, Jay Gwin, Rufus Stidman, David Young, Dr. Frank Oldham and Jim Craft. Honorary pallbearers are Delmer Hudson, Dr. Joe Brockwell, Charles Randle, Randy Simpkins, Terry Smith, Charles Ross, Bob Nichols and Dr. Steve Woodruff.
For lasting memorials, the family asks that considerations be given to the Valley View Church of Christ Building Fund, 1903 Kellers Chapel Road, Jonesboro, Ark. 72404.
CLARA HOWARD
Clara I. Howard, 87, died March 21.
She was born in Cleburne County and formerly lived in Hidgen and Searcy. She was a life long member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include her husband of 26 years, Eugene “Gene” Howard; one daughter, Voncille Houser of England; one brother, Chester Ingram and wife Wilma of Sherwood; three granddaughters, Sherrie Rogers of Texas, Melissa Earnest of Pine Bluff and Cindy Barr of Fort Smith; five great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren and a step-daughter, Jeanie Stane of North Little Rock.
Funeral Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Boyd Funeral Home Chapel, Lonoke, with interment in Union Valley Cemetery, Coy.
The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
NANCY SUNDERMAN
Nancy Mildred Sunderman, 67, died March 22. She is survived by her husband, Robert “Red” Sun-derman; four children, Christopher Chappue of Austin, Marty Chap-pue of Missouri, Diane Chappue of Oklahoma and Robert W. Sunderman of Florida; one brother, William Wilson of Virginia and one grandson. She was preceded in death by a son, Paul Chappue.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Boyd Funeral Home Chapel in Lonoke.
Memorials may be made to the Arkansas Heart Association.
CARL HILL
Carl Hill, 90, of Beebe, went to be with the Lord March 21.
He was a retired farmer, a veteran of World War II and a member of Union Valley Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lillie Ruth; his son, Joe Bill Hill of Jacksonville; his daughter, Glenda Stueart and her husband Sam of Benton; his granddaughter, Stephanie Yarbrough and her husband Ruven.
Visitation will begin at noon Wednesday at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Union Valley Baptist Church with burial in Stoney Point Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home.
LANCE SHAW
Lance Alan Shaw, 31, of Mt. Vernon was born March 27, 1973, and went to be with the Lord March 18.
He was an electrician, an avid deer hunter and sportsman.
He was a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.
A wonderful husband, father, and friend, he is survived by his wife Jodi, his daughter, Ella “Makinley” and his son, Colton Briar both of the home; his father, Robert “Bob” Shaw, Sr. of Vilonia; his mother, Nancy Alberson and her husband George of Romance; his in-laws, Lloyd and Shanna Doss of Quitman; his brothers and sisters, Renee’ Lloyd Ridling, Kimberly Talley, Robby Shaw, Sherry Alberson, Paula Reshel and Kay Leitstra; his paternal grandparents, C.W. and Opal Shaw of Vilonia and his faithful dog, “Skeeter.”
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents.
Visitation will begin noon Wednesday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Victory Baptist Church in Cabot with burial in Hawthicket Cemetery at Mt. Vernon. Arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home.
Aaron B. “A.B.” Rogers, 87, of Jonesboro, died Sunday morning at NEA Medical Center in Jonesboro.
Born in Evening Shade, he lived in Detroit, Mich., for 45 years before moving to Jonesboro in 1986.
He was a retired mail trans-port contractor, transporting the mail between Detroit and Lansing for 29 years.
He was a member of the Valley View Church of Christ, and was an Army veteran of WWII.
Survivors include his wife, Maudie Robertson Rogers; one son Robert Rogers of Cabot; one daughter Barbara Jaress of Jonesboro; one brother O.C. Rogers of Memphis and four grandchildren Debbie Smith of Hobe Sound, Fla.; David Jaress of Monroe, Ga., Todd Rogers of Maumelle and Tami Lewis of Lebanon, Tenn., and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at Emerson Memorial Chapel with Stanley Rogers and David Gibson officiating. Burial will follow in Jonesboro Memorial Park.
Active pallbearers are Cecil Wilkerson, Jay Gwin, Rufus Stidman, David Young, Dr. Frank Oldham and Jim Craft. Honorary pallbearers are Delmer Hudson, Dr. Joe Brockwell, Charles Randle, Randy Simpkins, Terry Smith, Charles Ross, Bob Nichols and Dr. Steve Woodruff.
For lasting memorials, the family asks that considerations be given to the Valley View Church of Christ Building Fund, 1903 Kellers Chapel Road, Jonesboro, Ark. 72404.
CLARA HOWARD
Clara I. Howard, 87, died March 21.
She was born in Cleburne County and formerly lived in Hidgen and Searcy. She was a life long member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include her husband of 26 years, Eugene “Gene” Howard; one daughter, Voncille Houser of England; one brother, Chester Ingram and wife Wilma of Sherwood; three granddaughters, Sherrie Rogers of Texas, Melissa Earnest of Pine Bluff and Cindy Barr of Fort Smith; five great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren and a step-daughter, Jeanie Stane of North Little Rock.
Funeral Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Boyd Funeral Home Chapel, Lonoke, with interment in Union Valley Cemetery, Coy.
The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
NANCY SUNDERMAN
Nancy Mildred Sunderman, 67, died March 22. She is survived by her husband, Robert “Red” Sun-derman; four children, Christopher Chappue of Austin, Marty Chap-pue of Missouri, Diane Chappue of Oklahoma and Robert W. Sunderman of Florida; one brother, William Wilson of Virginia and one grandson. She was preceded in death by a son, Paul Chappue.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Boyd Funeral Home Chapel in Lonoke.
Memorials may be made to the Arkansas Heart Association.
CARL HILL
Carl Hill, 90, of Beebe, went to be with the Lord March 21.
He was a retired farmer, a veteran of World War II and a member of Union Valley Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lillie Ruth; his son, Joe Bill Hill of Jacksonville; his daughter, Glenda Stueart and her husband Sam of Benton; his granddaughter, Stephanie Yarbrough and her husband Ruven.
Visitation will begin at noon Wednesday at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Union Valley Baptist Church with burial in Stoney Point Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home.
LANCE SHAW
Lance Alan Shaw, 31, of Mt. Vernon was born March 27, 1973, and went to be with the Lord March 18.
He was an electrician, an avid deer hunter and sportsman.
He was a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.
A wonderful husband, father, and friend, he is survived by his wife Jodi, his daughter, Ella “Makinley” and his son, Colton Briar both of the home; his father, Robert “Bob” Shaw, Sr. of Vilonia; his mother, Nancy Alberson and her husband George of Romance; his in-laws, Lloyd and Shanna Doss of Quitman; his brothers and sisters, Renee’ Lloyd Ridling, Kimberly Talley, Robby Shaw, Sherry Alberson, Paula Reshel and Kay Leitstra; his paternal grandparents, C.W. and Opal Shaw of Vilonia and his faithful dog, “Skeeter.”
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents.
Visitation will begin noon Wednesday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Victory Baptist Church in Cabot with burial in Hawthicket Cemetery at Mt. Vernon. Arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home.
Monday, March 21, 2005
TOP STORY>> Battle against Deltic is still on
IN SHORT: A showdown on Deltic Timber’s efforts to strip Central Arkansas Water of its authority to regulate surrounding land use goes to the House of Representatives after a water commissioner withdrew her moratorium resolution on Friday which could have helped Deltic.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
M. Jane Dickey, a Central Arkansas Water commissioner, withdrew from consideration Friday her resolution for a two-year moratorium on both developing and condemning land on the slopes of the Lake Maumelle reservoir while a previously planned management study is conducted.
CAW, which owns the Lake Maumelle reservoir that provides drinking water for customers in Jacksonville, Cabot and Sherwood, as well as Little Rock and North Little Rock, has refused to let Deltic Timber develop about 175 pricey, lake-view homes on 1,300 acres near water treatment intake structures on the lake.
The fight now moves to the House Committee on City, County and Local Affairs, where it has languished for weeks, but is due for consideration on Wednesday.
Committee Chairman Will Bond, D-Jacksonville, has said he’s inclined to vote for clean water, but that he’ll give the matter a fair hearing.
“I want to hear from the scientists,” Bond said.
Deltic is now said to be supporting Rep. Benny Petrus, D-Stuttgart, for the House speaker seat Bond has said he’ll seek next term.
Deltic slipped through the state Senate the bill that would strip CAW—and only CAW—of its power to regulate and to take lands by eminent domain.
Sen. John Paul Capps, D-Searcy, and Sen. Bobby Glover, D-Carlisle, were among the 11 senators opposed to Senate Bill 230.
Dickey could not be reached for comment late their primary water source.
CAW says the extra cost of treating water if Deltic builds subdivision near its Lake Maumelle intake site is reason enough to retain the right to condemn the property and buy it from Deltic to keep development out.
Senate Bill 230, which would strip CAW of its condemnation powers, goes before the House City, County and Local Government committee for a hearing on Wednesday.
But CAW is not the only water utility in the area that is trying to keep costs down by increasing its customer base. Com-munity Water Systems of Greers Ferry takes its water from that lake and distributes it locally. The utility also has built a pipeline to Faulkner and Cleburne counties and hopes to build one to Lonoke County.
That proposed project, called the Lonoke-White Project has been ongoing for almost 15 years but is now involved in a lawsuit that has it on hold until a court decides whether signed contracts are binding and who actually owns the intake site and waterline rights-of-way, CWS or the cities and water associations that were supposed to buy the water.
The members of that water project are Ward, Austin, Highway 319 Water Association, Bayou II Water Association, Grand Prairie Water Association and Mt. Vernon/Enola.
If a jury eventually says the members of the project not CWS are the owners of the intake site and waterline rights-of-way, Ward Mayor Art Brooke says the members will form their own water district and use their property, which cost $3 million, as leverage in an association with the Mid Arkansas Water Alliance.
MAWA, spearheaded by CAW, is currently involved in attaining a long term water supply for all its members.
Brooke says Lonoke-White members have talked to CAW about using the property if the jury decides in their favor.
The members of the Lonoke-White Project would then have ownership in their water supply not just be customers, he said.
CAW officials have said that although SB 230 has been amended so no other water utility is affected, any joint project possibly would be.
Regionalism, the combining of financial re-sources to benefit many and save money for all, is a call that many cities in central Arkansas have answered. But not Beebe.
Once the “White” in the Lonoke-White Project, Beebe became a member because of the prevailing theory that ground water would soon dry up and the only recourse would be to use surface water.
That association and why it ended was addressed Tuesday evening during a Beebe Planning Commission meeting on a proposed annexation that would double the size of the city.
Area residents wanted to know why Beebe pulled out of a project that was supposed to guarantee all the water the city would need. Don Beavers, an engineer who works for the water and sewer commission, answered that Beebe has enough water for the next 15 to 30 years.
Dwight Oxner, Beebe water and sewer manager, elaborated on that statement on Friday saying, “It’s hard to plan for more than 20 years at a time,” he said. “But every five years or so we update our 20-year-plan and all indications are that we’ve got plenty of water.”
Beebe gets its water from five wells located inside and outside the city but all in the Alluvial Aquifer. Tests performed by the Arkansas Soil and Water Con-servation Commission and engineers hired by the city show that the aquifer has dropped only one inch in 50 years, he said.
Cabot also was a member of the Lonoke-White Project but did not sign a contract with CWS, opting instead for CAW.
Beebe’s departure was a problem because that city’s low income level was to be the source of government grants. But when Cabot pulled out, it became impossible to build the project as planned with an intake structure on Cove Creek. That intake structure was included in the contract that is now being contested in court.
Only Grand Prairie and Bayou II have sued CWS. Spokesmen for those water associations say that since the structure is not included, the contract is not valid.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
M. Jane Dickey, a Central Arkansas Water commissioner, withdrew from consideration Friday her resolution for a two-year moratorium on both developing and condemning land on the slopes of the Lake Maumelle reservoir while a previously planned management study is conducted.
CAW, which owns the Lake Maumelle reservoir that provides drinking water for customers in Jacksonville, Cabot and Sherwood, as well as Little Rock and North Little Rock, has refused to let Deltic Timber develop about 175 pricey, lake-view homes on 1,300 acres near water treatment intake structures on the lake.
The fight now moves to the House Committee on City, County and Local Affairs, where it has languished for weeks, but is due for consideration on Wednesday.
Committee Chairman Will Bond, D-Jacksonville, has said he’s inclined to vote for clean water, but that he’ll give the matter a fair hearing.
“I want to hear from the scientists,” Bond said.
Deltic is now said to be supporting Rep. Benny Petrus, D-Stuttgart, for the House speaker seat Bond has said he’ll seek next term.
Deltic slipped through the state Senate the bill that would strip CAW—and only CAW—of its power to regulate and to take lands by eminent domain.
Sen. John Paul Capps, D-Searcy, and Sen. Bobby Glover, D-Carlisle, were among the 11 senators opposed to Senate Bill 230.
Dickey could not be reached for comment late their primary water source.
CAW says the extra cost of treating water if Deltic builds subdivision near its Lake Maumelle intake site is reason enough to retain the right to condemn the property and buy it from Deltic to keep development out.
Senate Bill 230, which would strip CAW of its condemnation powers, goes before the House City, County and Local Government committee for a hearing on Wednesday.
But CAW is not the only water utility in the area that is trying to keep costs down by increasing its customer base. Com-munity Water Systems of Greers Ferry takes its water from that lake and distributes it locally. The utility also has built a pipeline to Faulkner and Cleburne counties and hopes to build one to Lonoke County.
That proposed project, called the Lonoke-White Project has been ongoing for almost 15 years but is now involved in a lawsuit that has it on hold until a court decides whether signed contracts are binding and who actually owns the intake site and waterline rights-of-way, CWS or the cities and water associations that were supposed to buy the water.
The members of that water project are Ward, Austin, Highway 319 Water Association, Bayou II Water Association, Grand Prairie Water Association and Mt. Vernon/Enola.
If a jury eventually says the members of the project not CWS are the owners of the intake site and waterline rights-of-way, Ward Mayor Art Brooke says the members will form their own water district and use their property, which cost $3 million, as leverage in an association with the Mid Arkansas Water Alliance.
MAWA, spearheaded by CAW, is currently involved in attaining a long term water supply for all its members.
Brooke says Lonoke-White members have talked to CAW about using the property if the jury decides in their favor.
The members of the Lonoke-White Project would then have ownership in their water supply not just be customers, he said.
CAW officials have said that although SB 230 has been amended so no other water utility is affected, any joint project possibly would be.
Regionalism, the combining of financial re-sources to benefit many and save money for all, is a call that many cities in central Arkansas have answered. But not Beebe.
Once the “White” in the Lonoke-White Project, Beebe became a member because of the prevailing theory that ground water would soon dry up and the only recourse would be to use surface water.
That association and why it ended was addressed Tuesday evening during a Beebe Planning Commission meeting on a proposed annexation that would double the size of the city.
Area residents wanted to know why Beebe pulled out of a project that was supposed to guarantee all the water the city would need. Don Beavers, an engineer who works for the water and sewer commission, answered that Beebe has enough water for the next 15 to 30 years.
Dwight Oxner, Beebe water and sewer manager, elaborated on that statement on Friday saying, “It’s hard to plan for more than 20 years at a time,” he said. “But every five years or so we update our 20-year-plan and all indications are that we’ve got plenty of water.”
Beebe gets its water from five wells located inside and outside the city but all in the Alluvial Aquifer. Tests performed by the Arkansas Soil and Water Con-servation Commission and engineers hired by the city show that the aquifer has dropped only one inch in 50 years, he said.
Cabot also was a member of the Lonoke-White Project but did not sign a contract with CWS, opting instead for CAW.
Beebe’s departure was a problem because that city’s low income level was to be the source of government grants. But when Cabot pulled out, it became impossible to build the project as planned with an intake structure on Cove Creek. That intake structure was included in the contract that is now being contested in court.
Only Grand Prairie and Bayou II have sued CWS. Spokesmen for those water associations say that since the structure is not included, the contract is not valid.
EDITORIAL>> Biggest scandal at the Legislature
Scandals do not have to originate in secrecy.
They can be open and aboveboard from the first.
That is the case with the biggest scandal in state government in recent memory, the wholesale theft of $50 million or more from the state’s general improvement fund to bolster the re-election prospects of sitting legislators.
Calling it theft for political ends does not put too sharp a point on it, we believe. The state has monumental needs, starting with a court-ordered modernization of public schools.
Yet a band of lawmakers — the number ultimately will embrace about all of them — wants to carve away a large part of the $200 million or so available for this vital work for political largesse.
Legislators get chunks of the money, up to $1.5 million each to settle on little projects in their districts to curry favor with local groups: money for rural volunteer fire departments, clubhouse roofs, swimming pools, you name it. Legislators often get their pictures taken handing out the checks.
The practice began in 1997 and it has gotten more brazen each year because public outrage has been absent. It ought to be called what it is, public corruption, and people should let their lawmakers know about it.
Unless you’d just rather pay higher taxes to pay for the real business of the state.
They can be open and aboveboard from the first.
That is the case with the biggest scandal in state government in recent memory, the wholesale theft of $50 million or more from the state’s general improvement fund to bolster the re-election prospects of sitting legislators.
Calling it theft for political ends does not put too sharp a point on it, we believe. The state has monumental needs, starting with a court-ordered modernization of public schools.
Yet a band of lawmakers — the number ultimately will embrace about all of them — wants to carve away a large part of the $200 million or so available for this vital work for political largesse.
Legislators get chunks of the money, up to $1.5 million each to settle on little projects in their districts to curry favor with local groups: money for rural volunteer fire departments, clubhouse roofs, swimming pools, you name it. Legislators often get their pictures taken handing out the checks.
The practice began in 1997 and it has gotten more brazen each year because public outrage has been absent. It ought to be called what it is, public corruption, and people should let their lawmakers know about it.
Unless you’d just rather pay higher taxes to pay for the real business of the state.
EDITORIAL>> Huck caves in on gambling
Here is an acknowledgement that we woefully underestimated the efficiency of the Arkansas Legislature in the age of term limits. In barely more than a week a bill to legalize casino gambling made it from the fertile brains of racetrack officials to the statute books.
When there’s shady work to be done before people catch on, even the neophytes of this Legislature know how to cut through the parliamentary maze and make hasty law. A phalanx of lobbyists helps.
SB 999 by Rep. Bob Johnson will allow the owners of the state’s two pari-mutuel tracks, at Hot Springs and West Memphis, to open betting parlors where people can wager on electronic games of chance, sometimes known as slots. To get around the little matter of constitutional prohibitions, the games will have to involve “skill.” The state Racing Commission, always an eager friend of the tracks, will decide what meets that test. It’s assumed that video poker and blackjack will meet the threshold.
The bill sailed through the Senate and House of Representatives because the betting parlors can be established only after local elections, which is assumed to be automatic in Hot Springs and West Memphis. The local-option feature will allow lawmakers to shrug when people back home ask about their vote. We just voted to let folks over there decide.
That was a ruse for Gov. Huckabee, too, who denied any claim to leadership. The governor was out of town when the House approved the bill, but he wasted no time when he got back announcing that he would let the bill become law without his signature lest any of the interests behind the bill get aggravated that he might be a roadblock to gambling. He said he personally opposed casino gambling and believed the bill to be terrible government but, after all, local people would get to vote on it first.
Besides, Huckabee said, what could he do? He was just a governor without much influence in a legislature that was overwhelmingly Democratic. He said it would be pointless for him to veto the bill because both houses would promptly have overridden his veto. His letter to the legislature said he and lawmakers had gotten along famously this session, and he did not want to jeopardize that relationship by vetoing a bill they liked.
This is what passes for leadership in the year of our Lord 2005.
We remember the last time this happened — and this is almost a reincarnation. It was 1967, a Republican was governor and the House and Senate were 97 percent angry Democrats. The legislature late in the session quickly passed and fired to Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller a bill to legalize casino gambling in Garland and Crittenden counties, which would be regulated by a state Crime Commission. It was whispered in the legislative quiet rooms that the governor had agreed to sign the bill or let it become law without his signature. Earlier, he had sent state troopers barging into the casinos and they had confiscated and smashed the slots. He said he would do that as long as the law barred gambling.
But Rockefeller surprised them. He vetoed the bill. He said the people of Arkansas had expressed their opposition to casino gambling (they have done it four times since 1964), and he would not sit idly by and let it happen without a vote of the people.
Do you know what? The Legislature did not override his veto, although only a simple majority in both houses would have done it. Shamed by the governor’s moral stance, legislators begged the sponsors not to try to override the veto. They did not want to get on record again. Who knows? It might have worked for Huckabee, too.
Actually, the governor’s letter spelled out all the reasons that the bill should have at least been seriously debated. It is of dubious constitutionality, the taxes on the betting handle might well need to be much higher than the 20 percent that the bill specifies, and the state might have collected tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars — for school buildings, for example — by putting up the lucrative gambling franchises for bid rather than assigning them free to the current track owners.
When it comes to leadership, we miss the good old days.
When there’s shady work to be done before people catch on, even the neophytes of this Legislature know how to cut through the parliamentary maze and make hasty law. A phalanx of lobbyists helps.
SB 999 by Rep. Bob Johnson will allow the owners of the state’s two pari-mutuel tracks, at Hot Springs and West Memphis, to open betting parlors where people can wager on electronic games of chance, sometimes known as slots. To get around the little matter of constitutional prohibitions, the games will have to involve “skill.” The state Racing Commission, always an eager friend of the tracks, will decide what meets that test. It’s assumed that video poker and blackjack will meet the threshold.
The bill sailed through the Senate and House of Representatives because the betting parlors can be established only after local elections, which is assumed to be automatic in Hot Springs and West Memphis. The local-option feature will allow lawmakers to shrug when people back home ask about their vote. We just voted to let folks over there decide.
That was a ruse for Gov. Huckabee, too, who denied any claim to leadership. The governor was out of town when the House approved the bill, but he wasted no time when he got back announcing that he would let the bill become law without his signature lest any of the interests behind the bill get aggravated that he might be a roadblock to gambling. He said he personally opposed casino gambling and believed the bill to be terrible government but, after all, local people would get to vote on it first.
Besides, Huckabee said, what could he do? He was just a governor without much influence in a legislature that was overwhelmingly Democratic. He said it would be pointless for him to veto the bill because both houses would promptly have overridden his veto. His letter to the legislature said he and lawmakers had gotten along famously this session, and he did not want to jeopardize that relationship by vetoing a bill they liked.
This is what passes for leadership in the year of our Lord 2005.
We remember the last time this happened — and this is almost a reincarnation. It was 1967, a Republican was governor and the House and Senate were 97 percent angry Democrats. The legislature late in the session quickly passed and fired to Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller a bill to legalize casino gambling in Garland and Crittenden counties, which would be regulated by a state Crime Commission. It was whispered in the legislative quiet rooms that the governor had agreed to sign the bill or let it become law without his signature. Earlier, he had sent state troopers barging into the casinos and they had confiscated and smashed the slots. He said he would do that as long as the law barred gambling.
But Rockefeller surprised them. He vetoed the bill. He said the people of Arkansas had expressed their opposition to casino gambling (they have done it four times since 1964), and he would not sit idly by and let it happen without a vote of the people.
Do you know what? The Legislature did not override his veto, although only a simple majority in both houses would have done it. Shamed by the governor’s moral stance, legislators begged the sponsors not to try to override the veto. They did not want to get on record again. Who knows? It might have worked for Huckabee, too.
Actually, the governor’s letter spelled out all the reasons that the bill should have at least been seriously debated. It is of dubious constitutionality, the taxes on the betting handle might well need to be much higher than the 20 percent that the bill specifies, and the state might have collected tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars — for school buildings, for example — by putting up the lucrative gambling franchises for bid rather than assigning them free to the current track owners.
When it comes to leadership, we miss the good old days.
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